Audit and certification · Certificates by a CA
How can I verify a CA certificate or audit report using its UDIN?
Short answer
Every certificate, audit report or attestation signed by a Chartered Accountant in practice carries an 18-character Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN). Go to ICAI's UDIN portal, choose 'Verify UDIN', enter the UDIN and the details asked for, and compare what the portal shows (member, firm, date, type of document and key figures) with the document. If the UDIN is missing, revoked or does not match, ask the issuing CA before relying on it.
Reading a UDIN
A UDIN has 18 characters:
| Part | Characters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Year of generation | 2 digits | 26 |
| ICAI membership number of the signing CA | 6 digits | 123456 |
| A system-generated code | 10 characters | ABCDE12345 |
It is printed on the document, usually near the signature.
How to verify
- Open udin.icai.org and choose Verify UDIN.
- Enter the UDIN and the other details asked for, such as the date of the document, and complete the verification step.
- The portal shows the member's name and membership number, the firm, the date and type of document, and the key particulars the CA recorded, such as turnover or net worth.
- Compare these with the document you have.
What to look for
| You see | It means |
|---|---|
| Details match | The document was registered by that CA |
| UDIN not found | Possibly mistyped, not yet generated, or not genuine |
| UDIN revoked | The CA has withdrawn it; ask for the current document |
| Figures differ | The document may have been altered; do not rely on it |
Timing
A CA must generate the UDIN within 60 days of signing, or earlier if the authority receiving the document requires it. A certificate presented without a UDIN, or with one generated long after the event, should be queried.
Government portals such as the income-tax e-filing system and many banks verify UDINs automatically.
Legal basis
- ICAI guidelines on Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN), mandatory for certificates from 1 February 2019 and for audit reports from 1 July 2019
Official sources
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