Corporate Identification Number or Corporate Identity Number (CIN) is a 21-digit alpha-numeric number provided to all Private Limited Companies (PLCs), One Person Companies (OPCs), Companies owned by the Government of India, State Government Companies, Not-for-Profit, National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) Companies, etc. registered in India.
CIN number is a unique identification number that is given by the Registrar Of Companies (ROC) of various states under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). CIN number is assigned to companies registered in India by the ROC located in states across the nation.
CIN number is used to track all the activities of an enterprise after its registration by the ROC. This number contains the identity of an organization and additional information regarding the registered company under the ROC. The company’s information can be accessed using a 21-digit alphanumeric unique identification number by the ROC.
What is Corporate Identification Number (CIN)?
Corporate Identification Number (CIN) is a 21 digits alpha-numeric code issued to companies incorporated within the country on being registered by the ROC situated in different states across India under the MCA.
CIN is provided to all companies registered in India, which include:
- Private Limited Companies (PLCs)
- One Person Companies (OPCs)
- Companies owned by the Government of India
- State Government Companies
- Not-for-Profit Section 8 Company
- Nidhi Companies, etc.
However, CIN is not given to the Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP) registered in India. For the LLPs, the ROC gives the LLPIN (Limited Liability Partnership Identification Number) that acts as a unique 7-digit identification number of the LLP.
Breaking down Corporate Identification Number
Section-1: The first character – L
Section-2: The next five digits – 01631
Section-3: The next two letters – KA
Section-4: The next four digits – 2010
Section-5: The next three characters – PTC
Section-6: The last six digits – 096843
Each section provides the following information:
- Section-1: Consists of the first character of CIN that reveals whether a company is “Listed” or “Unlisted” on the Indian stock market. In other words, the first character implies the Stock Market listing status. In case a company is listed, the CIN would start with the letter ‘L’ and in case a company isn’t listed it would start with the letter ‘U’.
- Section-2: Consists of the next set of five numeric digits that categorizes the economic activity of a company or to which industry the company belongs to. This classification is based on the nature of the economic activities which would be carried out by such an establishment. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has allotted a number to every category or industry.
- Section-3: Consists of the next two letters that denote the Indian state where the company is registered. For instance, KA is for Karnataka, MH is for Maharashtra, DL is for Delhi, etc. It works in a similar fashion as the car registration number.
- Section-4: Consists of the next set of four numeric digits that signifies the year of incorporation of a company.
- Section-5: Consists of the following three letters that denote the company classification. These three letters help to identify whether a company is a private limited company or a public limited company. If the CIN number here is FTC, it would mean that such a company is a subsidiary of any foreign company or if it’s GOI, it would imply that such company is owned by the Indian Government.
- Section-6: Consists of the remaining six numeric digits that denote the registration number provided by the respective Registrar of Companies (ROC).
Abbreviations in CIN number
- FLC: Financial Lease Company as Public Limited
- FTC: Subsidiary of a Foreign Company as Private Limited Company
- GAP: General Association Public
- GAT: General Association Private
- GOI: Companies owned by the Government of India
- NPL: Not-for-Profit License Company (Section 8 Company)
- OPC: One Person Company
- PLC: Public Limited Company
- PTC: Private Limited Company
- SGC: Companies owned by State Government
- ULL: Public Limited Company with Unlimited Liability
- ULT: Private Company with Unlimited Liability
Usage of Corporate Incorporation Number
- On invoices, bills and receipts
- On notice
- On memos
- On letterheads
- Annual Reports and audits
- Every e-form submission on the MCA portal
- Company’s official publications
- Any other company publications
Importance of Corporate Identification Number
CIN is used for tracking all the aspects and activities of a company from its incorporation by the ROC and is required to be provided on all the transactions with the respective ROC.
The 21 digit CIN has its own meaning which is easily translatable and which helps in finding basic information relating to a company. It is used for finding the primary details of the companies which are registered within the country under MCA.
CIN is a unique number that can be used for identifying or tracking companies for several levels of information that ROC / MCA holds. The CIN contains the identity of an organisation and additional information regarding the registered company under the ROC.
Penalty for Non-Compliance
If the above-mentioned requirements are not met or if a company does not apply for a CIN number, there is a penalty charge of Rs. 1000/day on the company and every officer and the maximum penalty charge is limited to Rs. 1 lakh.
FAQs
Are CIN and GST the same?
No. A CIN is the identification number allotted to registered companies by the Registrar of Companies at the time of issue of the company registration certificate. On the other hand, GSTIN is the identification number issued to companies and businesses registered under the GST law. Hence, both are different and have different functions.
Is CIN mandatory to be mentioned on the company’s invoices, bills, and receipts?
Yes. As per section 12(3)(c) of the Companies Act, a company must print its name, address of its registered office and the CIN in all its business letters, billheads, letter papers, notices and other official publications. Thus, a company must mandatorily mention its CIN on its bills, invoices, receipts and e-mails sent to outside parties.