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To check whether a purported GST notice or summons is genuine, use the official verification route for the identifier it carries: verify a GST portal Reference Number (RFN), a DIN, or an eOffice Issue Number. Do not rely on a sender’s email address, phone call, document appearance, or a missing signature alone. DGGI advises recipients not to act on suspicious communication until the relevant identifier has been validated.
Choose the verification route that matches the document
These identifiers are not interchangeable requirements: a document may carry one depending on its issuing system and type. Use the matching government verifier rather than assuming every notice must have all three.
| Identifier on the communication | When it applies | Official check |
|---|---|---|
| GSTN Reference Number (RFN) | System-generated notices or orders on the GST common portal | Use Verify RFN on the GST portal |
| Document Identification Number (DIN) | Communications issued under the DIN system | Search the DIN with CBIC |
| eOffice Issue Number | Communications issued through eOffice that display an Issue Number | Verify the document with CBIC |
DGGI lists DIN, RFN, and eOffice Issue Number as possible identifiers for official DGGI and related GST communications. Its instruction is direct: “Do not act on suspicious communication unless the relevant DIN, RFN No., or eOffice Issue No. is validated.” See the DGGI Public Services page.
Verify a GST portal notice or order by RFN
GSTN’s advisory dated 25 September 2024 describes two ways to verify an RFN for portal-generated documents:
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- Before logging in: use the GST portal’s Services section and its RFN verification link.
- After logging in: open Dashboard > Services > User Services > Verify RFN.
The portal check is intended to confirm the document’s validity, issuer, and purpose. Follow the route in GSTN’s advisory on notices and orders without visible digital signatures.
A missing visible digital signature does not prove a GST PDF is fake
Some documents generated through the GST portal—including show-cause notices, assessment orders, and refund orders—may not display a visible digital signature on the downloaded PDF. GSTN explains that these are generated through an officer’s digitally authenticated portal session, while document data and issuing-officer details are stored in the GST system with the officer’s digital signature. For these portal-generated documents, check the RFN rather than treating the absent visible signature as proof of forgery.
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Check an eOffice Issue Number or DIN
eOffice Issue Number
CBIC’s eOffice verifier accepts the Issue Number printed at the top right of the document. CBIC says it is formatted like I/1234567/YYYY. Enter the number in the CBIC Verify Document service.
DIN
If the communication carries a DIN, use the separate CBIC DIN Search. Do not substitute the eOffice verifier or GSTN RFN check simply because it is more familiar; match the verifier to the identifier shown.
If the document is a summons
The GST Portal’s December 2022 functionality guide describes an online reply path for a Notice to Summon in enforcement cases: Services > User Services > View Additional Notices and orders > Notices folder > Reply for Notice to Summon. It also documents a Request for Adjournment function for such replies. This describes available portal functionality, not the legal merits of a summons, the deadline in a particular case, or what a recipient should say.
For portal navigation details, see GST Portal’s December 2022 functionality update. Check the current portal and the summons itself for applicable instructions and dates.
What to do if verification fails or something seems wrong
- Pause before acting. Do not make a payment, disclose credentials or OTPs, or follow instructions in a suspicious message before validating its identifier. DGGI’s warning specifically says to validate the relevant number first.
- Check the number through the correct official service. Use Verify RFN for a GST portal reference, DIN Search for a DIN, or the eOffice verifier for an Issue Number.
- Compare the result with the document. Check whether the verified record matches the issuing authority, document purpose, and communication you received. A mismatch or failed lookup means you should not treat the message as verified.
- Use official government channels to resolve uncertainty. Do not use contact details, payment links, or callback numbers supplied only in a suspicious message as proof of its authenticity.
- Get qualified advice where the notice has legal consequences. Verification establishes what the official system reports; it does not decide the legal validity of a particular proceeding or determine the right response.
Do not decide validity from a formatting defect alone
Section 160 of the CGST Act addresses mistakes, defects, and omissions in proceedings and service of communications. It provides that certain defects do not invalidate a proceeding when it is substantively in conformity with legal requirements. That does not establish that any particular notice is valid: use the official identifier check and consult the statutory text or a qualified adviser about a real dispute. The CBIC Tax Information portal provides indirect-tax legislation and related material.
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