What is a CIN number?
CIN or Corporate Identification Number is a 21-digit alpha-numeric code assigned to companies incorporated within India by the Registrar of Companies (ROC) in various states when they’re registered under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
Why do you need a CIN number?
The CIN number is used to track all activities by the company since its incorporation by the ROC and needs to be provided during any transaction with the ROC. It is a unique number and is used for the purpose of tracking basic information and details related to the company.
Documents where CIN number is required
Various documents need the CIN number to be provided in case of any company (private or public) that is incorporated and registered in India. Some of these are:
- Letterheads
- E-form on the MCA portal
- Invoices and Receipts
- Official Reports
- Notices
- Other Official Publications
CIN number: Breaking it down
- The first letter in a company’s unique CIN number denotes its stock market listing status. It starts with the letter L if it’s registered and with U if it’s not.
- The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has assigned a number to every industry or category of business based on the nature of their economic activities. The next 5 digits in a company’s CIN number is a representation of this.
- The following two letters define the state where the company has been registered.
- The next four digits depict the year of company registration.
- The subsequent three letters signify whether the company is a private or public company.
- The final six digits denote the registration number provided by the concerned Registrar of Companies (ROC).
Useful abbreviations related to CIN number
FLC: Financial Lease Company as Public Limited
FTC: Subsidiary of a Foreign Company as Private Limited Company
SGC: Companies owned by State Government
GOI: Companies owned by Government of India
NPL: Not-for-Profit License Company
PLC: Public Limited Company
PTC: Private Limited Company
OPC: One person Company
ULL: Public Limited Company with Unlimited Liability
ULT: Private Company with Unlimited Liability
GAP: General Association Public
GAT: General Association Private
Can I change my company’s CIN number?
In certain cases, a new CIN number may be issued to your organization. Some of them are:
- If there’s a change in the company’s stock market listing status
- If the company shifts to a new location or state (away from the state where it was originally registered)
- If the company changes its industry or sector
Penalty for non-compliance
A penalty of Rs.1000 per day applies on every company and officer if the company does not apply for a CIN number or does not meet the necessary requirements.The maximum penalty for defaulting is capped at Rs.1 lakh.
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