Verify a Kerala GST notice through the GST Portal’s Verify RFN facility, then check that the portal record matches the communication you received. Do not use a payment or login link supplied only in a suspicious message. A missing Reference Number (RFN), an unsigned PDF, or a manually prepared document is a reason to check—not, by itself, proof that the notice is fake.
Verify the notice before taking action
- Open the GST Portal independently. Type the official portal address yourself or use a bookmark you already trust. Do not follow a payment or login link found only in the message you are checking.
- Check the RFN. Use the portal’s pre-login Verify RFN facility, or sign in and go to Dashboard > Services > User Services > Verify RFN. GSTN describes both routes as ways to verify who issued a communication and for what purpose. Neither route is described as more authoritative than the other. GSTN advisory, 25 September 2024.
- Compare the returned details with the document. Check the taxpayer identity, issuing authority, dates, form, subject, amount and requested action. Look for a matching notice or order in your account’s notices/orders area. These are practical comparison points; the department’s source documents do not prescribe them as a formal checklist.
- Pause if anything does not match. Do not pay or share credentials based on the message. Independently find contact information on an official GST or Kerala government website and ask the relevant department to clarify. Do not rely only on contact details embedded in the questionable communication.
What an RFN means for Kerala State GST communications
Kerala State GST Circular 14/2023, dated 22 July 2023, directs that communications—including emails—prominently carry a computer-generated RFN. The circular says this numbering is used in Kerala’s Model 2 back-office system, which replaced Model 1 on 1 March 2022. It also recognizes exceptions in specified circumstances. Therefore, a missing RFN is a reason to verify directly, not conclusive evidence of fraud. Kerala State GST Circular 14/2023.
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How to interpret the PDF and form numbers
An unsigned portal PDF is not automatically invalid
GSTN’s 25 September 2024 advisory says that a document issued through the common portal may not display a visible digital signature on its downloaded PDF. According to GSTN, the issuing officer logs in using a digital signature, and the portal stores the communication and officer details. That explanation applies to documents issued through the portal; it does not authenticate a PDF received from an unknown source. Verify the particular communication using its RFN and matching portal record. GSTN advisory on notices and orders without visible digital signatures.
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A manual-looking notice is not automatically fake
Kerala State GST Circular 04/2024, dated 30 March 2024, says notices under State GST sections 73 and 74 are prepared manually by the proper officer and uploaded to the portal with Form GST DRC-01. Adjudication orders are prepared manually and uploaded with Form DRC-07. The document’s typography or manual preparation is not a reliable authenticity test; check the RFN and portal record. Kerala State GST Circular 04/2024.
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Know which stage each DRC form represents
- DRC-01: summary of a show-cause notice.
- DRC-06: form for a taxpayer’s reply to a show-cause notice.
- DRC-07: summary of an order.
A notice summary and an order summary represent different stages. A form number helps you understand the communication, but it does not replace RFN verification and comparison with the portal record.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the RFN or portal record cannot be verified
- Do not pay through the message or disclose your GST Portal password, one-time password or other credentials.
- Save the communication and note the mismatch or verification result.
- Find an official contact independently through a government website; do not assume a number or email supplied in the message is genuine.
- If the portal shows a verified notice and you dispute its substance, consult a qualified tax professional about the response. Do not ignore a verified notice merely because you are concerned about scams.
The official materials cited here do not identify a dedicated Kerala GST scam-reporting helpline. The Kerala government directory lists State GST Department contacts, but it does not establish which office handles a particular notice or suspected scam. Kerala government contact directory.
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