How to get a CIN number for your business? [Step-wise Guide]

How to get CIN number is a problem for many and in this article, we will describe more about what CIN is all about and how to get the number. CIN stands for Corporate Identification Number and is a 21 digit alphanumeric number issued by the Registrar of Companies upon registering under the ROC within India. The CIN is used for monitoring and tracking all the activities of a company from the inception to all other activities under the registrar of companies. The 21 digit CIN assigned to a company has its meaning and is used to find the information about a company whenever needed. CIN is mandatory for a company to be operational in India and serves for the rest of the transactions with the ROC. Having a CIN will help the company in later stages in its operations.

What is CIN number? Get Familiar with CIN

CIN number is provided to all one-person companies, limited companies, private limited companies, section 8 companies, Nidhi companies registered in India, and producer companies. It is the registrar of the companies that issue the CIN number. Every state will have a ROC and companies can get in touch with the ROC to incorporate their business and get the CIN. In India, only the eastern states do not have the ROC, but all the other states do have one. The CIN is the number used to identify the business in the future and helps to establish the authenticity of the business.

The Importance of a CIN number

The CIN number is used to track all the aspects of a company right from the incorporation. If you need to publish something or send letters to anyone, then you need to mention the CIN number on them. So it basically serves as the representative number of the business that is unique to it all over India. The alphanumeric characters refer to the important information about the company when translated.

Format of a CIN number

• Listing Status - The first letter in the CIN number represents whether a company is listed or not listed. Commonly L is used for listed status and U for unlisted status.
• Industry code - The next five digits are for the ROC industry code.  According to the industry, the numbers also will change and this is used to identify the type of company.
• State code - The 7th and 8th digits represent the state code that is the state in which the company is located. For example, if the company is located in Maharashtra, the 7th and 8th digit codes will be MH and so on for the different states.
• Incorporation year - Digits 9 to 12 is for the year of the incorporation of the company. According to the year of incorporation, the numbers will change.
• Ownership type - The proceeding three characters are for the ownership type of the business. PLC is used for public limited companies and PTC for private limited companies.
• Registration number - The last 6 digits of the CIN number are the registration number for the company.

How to get CIN number for your company?

Once you register your company under the registrar of companies, you will automatically get a CIN number. There is no separate procedure for getting a CIN number. By getting a digital signature certificate (DSC), the Director identification number (DIC), getting the name approved, and completing the documents such as the Articles of Association and the Memorandum of Association, the company will be incorporated. In the certificate of incorporation, there will be a CIN number.

So basically you get the CIN number when you register the company with the registrar of companies. There is no other procedure to get the CIN number. It is something issued to you at the time of company registration.

Tracking the CIN of your company

Tracking the CIN is easy. All you need to do is to go to the official website of the ministry of corporate affairs and choose the ‘Find CIN’ option under the MCA services tab. If you don’t want to do that, here is the direct link to the page. You need to enter the details of your company and once you are all done, you will get the CIN number for your company.

Where should you mention the CIN number?

The CIN number of a company should be mentioned in certain important places including:

• Letterheads
• Receipts
• Invoices
• Annual reports
• Notice
• Business letters
• Bill heads
• In all e-forms under the corporate affairs ministry
• In emails to outside parties who are not part of the company
• In publications such as periodicals, journals, books, financial results, etc.

Conclusion

This article has covered the topic, how to get CIN number. CIN number is mandatory if you are doing a business and it helps the authorities to track the business and make sure that everything is going well. It is a 21 digit unique number given for your business. You need to submit all the documents for the registration of the company and you will get your CIN number. Getting a CIN number means you are authorised to do business in India and your business is legally confirmed by the Corporate ministry of affairs.

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FAQs

Q. What is a CIN number?

Ans. CIN stands for Corporate Identification Number and is the recognition number for a business. With the CIN number, the activities of a business can be tracked. It serves as a unique number for a business.

Q. How do I get the CIN number?

Ans. In order to get the CIN number, you need to first register your business under the registrar of companies. Once this is done and all the documents are submitted, your CIN number will be issued to you.

Q. What is the purpose of a CIN number?

Ans. The CIN number is used to monitor and track all the aspects of the business right from the incorporation stage. It is a 21 digit alphanumeric number that mentions the behaviour and characteristics of a business. With the CIN number, the corporate affairs ministry can track a business and verify its operations.

Q. Is the CIN number the same as the registration number?

Ans. The last 6 digits of the CIN number is the registration number for the business. The proceeding digits have various meanings. But if you need to know the registration number for your business, it is the last 6 digits of the CIN number.

Q. Can I change the CIN number?

Ans. You cannot change the CIN number by yourself. The number automatically changes when the location, status, etc of the business changes. The CIN number is controlled and issued by the registrar of companies and changing of it strictly adheres to the ROC.

Q. How to verify a CIN number?

Ans. In order to verify a CIN number you need to visit the MCA website and under the Master Data tab, click ‘’View Company or LLP Master Data.” Now you need to enter the CIN number and the code and submit. Your CIN number will be verified.

Q. Where is the ROC located?

Ans. The registrar of companies is located in respective states of the country and in the union territories. If you need to register your company, you need to go to the registrar’s office.