The identification number given to every registered supplier is _____________.

Correct option is A

Correct Answer: (a) GSTIN

Explanation:
GSTIN (Goods and Services Tax Identification Number) is a unique 15-digit identification number assigned to every registered taxpayer (supplier, dealer, or business entity) under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system in India. It is issued by the GST Network (GSTN) after registration and is mandatory for businesses with a turnover above the prescribed limit.

The structure of GSTIN is as follows:

1. First 2 digits – State Code (as per the Indian Census 2011)
2. Next 10 digits – PAN (Permanent Account Number) of the business
3. 13th digit – Entity number (based on the number of registrations in the state)
4. 14th digit – Default alphabet ‘Z’
5. 15th digit – Check code (for verification)

GSTIN helps in tracking tax payments, ensuring transparency, and simplifying tax compliance under the GST regime.

Information Booster:
● GSTIN is mandatory for businesses with a turnover of ₹40 lakh (₹10 lakh for special category states) or above.
● It replaces previous tax identification numbers like TIN, Service Tax Registration Number, and Excise Registration Number.
● E-invoicing and input tax credit (ITC) verification require a valid GSTIN.
● GSTIN can be verified on the GST portal (www.gst.gov.in).
● The composition scheme under GST applies to small taxpayers, exempting them from regular GST filing but still requiring a GSTIN.

Additional Knowledge:

• (b) GST: Incorrect; GST (Goods and Services Tax) is the tax system itself, not an identification number.
• (c) HSN: Incorrect; HSN (Harmonized System of Nomenclature) is a classification system for goods and services under GST, used to categorize products for taxation.
• (d) IGST: Incorrect; IGST (Integrated Goods and Services Tax) is a type of GST applied to interstate transactions.