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Chinese company code checker
Paste the 18-character Unified Social Credit Code (统一社会信用代码) from your supplier's business licence. In one second you'll know whether it is correctly formed, what kind of entity it belongs to and where it was registered.
What this check can and cannot tell you
It can tell you
- Whether the code was mistyped or invented: the last character is a check digit calculated from the other 17
- Whether it belongs to a company, an individual business (个体工商户) or a non-profit
- The province and often the city where it was first issued
It cannot tell you
- Whether the company still exists or is in good standing
- Whether the code belongs to the company named on your quote or contract
- Whether it is a factory or a trader, has court cases, or is on the dishonest-defaulter list
- Whether the bank account you are asked to pay belongs to it
Fraudsters often copy a real company's valid code onto their own documents. A valid code is the start, not the answer. The official register, gsxt.gov.cn, shows the rest, in Chinese.
How the code is built
| Characters | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration authority. 9 = market regulator (businesses), 5 = civil affairs (non-profits), 1 = government bodies | 9 |
| 2 | Entity type. For businesses: 1 = enterprise, 2 = individual business, 3 = farmers' co-operative | 1 |
| 3–8 | Administrative division where the code was issued (province, city, district) | 440300 = Shenzhen |
| 9–17 | Organisation code, with its own check character in position 17 | XXXXXXXXX |
| 18 | Check digit, calculated from the first 17 characters | X |
The letters I, O, Z, S and V are never used, to avoid confusion with 1, 0, 2, 5 and U. Standard: GB 32100-2015. More detail in our guide How to read a Chinese business licence.
Common questions
Where do I find a Chinese company's Unified Social Credit Code?
On its business licence (营业执照), usually in the top left corner, labelled 统一社会信用代码. It also appears on official invoices (发票) and often on the company seal. Ask the supplier for a photo of the whole licence, not a cropped image.
My supplier's code passed. Does that mean they are genuine?
No. It means the code is correctly formed. Scammers often reuse a real company's code. You still need to confirm on the official register that the code belongs to the company named on your contract, that it is active, and that the bank account you pay is in the same name.
The checker says it is an individual business (个体工商户). Is that a problem?
Not always: many small traders are registered this way. But an individual business is not a limited company, the owner is personally liable, and it is unusual for a real factory taking large orders. Treat a large deposit or a "factory" claim with extra care.
The supplier gave me a 15-digit number. Is that wrong?
It is probably an old registration number (注册号) used before 2016. Every active company now has an 18-character code. Ask for the current business licence.
Is anything I type sent to Thornfield?
No. The check runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is stored or sent unless you choose to order a check.
About to pay a deposit?
We check the code, the company, its courts record and the bank details, in Chinese, and tell you plainly whether to proceed.
Order a Supplier Check