CIN Number Meaning - Decode Corporate Identity Number (CIN) Online

CIN Number or Corporate Identity Number or Company Identification Number is a unique 21 digit alpha-numeric number given to all Private Limited Company, One Person Company, Limited Company, Section 8 Company, Nidhi Company and Producer Company registered in India. CIN number is used to track all aspects of the company from incorporation by the Registrar of Companies and must be quoted on all transactions with the Registrar of Companies. In this article, we look at the meaning and structuring of CIN Number.

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Decoding CIN Number

What is CIN?

CIN full form stands for 'Corporate Identification Number'. This 21-digit alphanumeric code is used by the Registrar of Companies for all the registered companies in India. It is provided to the business owner at the same time the registration certificate is issued. It is issued to different types of companies registered in India, such as Private limited companies, One Person companies (OPC), State Government Companies, etc.

Listing Status

The first letter of the CIN Number represents the listing status of the company. Unlisted companies start with U and listed companies start with L.

Industry Code

The next five digits represent the ROC industry code. Different activities have different 5 digit codes and it is used to classify the type of company being registered. Click here to download a full list of ROC Industry Code.

Some examples of ROC industry codes used in CIN Numbers are as follows:

Hospitals: 85110
General higher education in science, commerce and humanity: 80301
Production, supply and documentation of ready-made (non-customized) software: 72211
Real estate activities on a fee or contract basis: 70200
Activities of travel agencies and tour operators; tourist assistance activities: 63040
Freight transport by motor vehicles: 60231
Retail sale of construction materials: 52341
Farming of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, asses, mules and hinnies; dairy farming: 01211
Manufacture of mineral water: 15543
Manufacture of all types of textile garments and clothing accessories: 18101
Manufacture of electric motors: universal AC/DC motors and DC motors or generators: 31103

State Code

The characters in the 7th and 8th place of the CIN number represent the state of incorporation. A company registered in Tamil Nadu would have the characters TN, while a company having registered office in Maharashtra would have MH in the CIN number.

Incorporation Year

The number is the 9th to 12th place of the CIN number represent the year of incorporation. Based on the company incorporation date, the CIN number would change.

Ownership Type

The three characters after the incorporation year represent the ownership type of the company. For instance, PTC stands for private limited company and PLC stands for Public Limited Company.

Registration Number

The last six number of the CIN number is the registration number of the company issued by the Registrar of Companies.

Note: LLPs do not use CIN. LLPs are provided with LLPIN. Also, a company's CIN will not be the same as its GSTIN. GSTIN or Goods and Services Identification Number is provided to those having GST registration.