Corporate identity number or CIN is a unique 21 digit registration number which each and every company gets after getting registered with ministry of corporate affairs.
With effect from 1st April 2014, 183 new sections of companies act 2013 has been notified. Out of that list, section 12 is one of such section which deals with Corporate identity number or CIN to be quoted in company’s letter head.
Earlier to this, section 146 of the erstwhile companies act 1956 require companies to quote only their name and address of the registered office in all letterheads, billheads, invoices and in all other official publications. But this mandatory requirement of section 12 of new companies act 2013 regarding quoting of company’s Corporate identity number or CIN in letter heads and other official publications was not there.
As per section 12 (3) (c) of new companies act 2013, every company shall get its name, address of its registered office and the Corporate identity number or CIN along with telephone number, fax number, if any, email address and website address, if any, printed in all its business letter, billheads, letter papers and in all its notices and other official publications.
Any other publication has a wider meaning and includes all most all publication that is related to company’s business including its website and emails. We suggest putting the company’s Corporate identity number or CIN everywhere instead of thinking whether to this publication or letter it’s applicable or not.
If the company has changed its name during the last two years then it shall print its old name or names so changed along with the new name in all of its business letter, billheads, letter papers and in all its notices and other official publications. For example if your company’s earlier name was “XYZ private limited” then below the new name, you can mention within bracket “erstwhile XYZ private limited”. Period of such compliance is not mentioned in the act but from the language of the new provision one would infer that this compliance is required for two years from the date of change.
In case of failure to quote Corporate identity number or CIN as required by the new companies act 2013, penalty of Rs. 1000 per day shall be imposed on the defaulting company and on every officer in default for every day during which the default continues up to a maximum penalty of Rs. 100000.
How to find company’s Corporate identity number or CIN
Corporate identity number or CIN is a 21 digit registration number of company which can be found in certificate of incorporation that is issued after getting registered with ministry of corporate affairs.
In case you do not have the certificate in hand then you can find the CIN or Corporate identity number from ministry of corporate affair’s website by selecting your company’s name.
