ICAI Releases 5th Edition of UDIN FAQs as System Approaches 8 Crores Milestone [Read FAQs]

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has released the fifth edition of its FAQs on Unique Document Identification Numbers (UDIN), underscoring a huge step in the evolution of this critical system for verifying documents certified by Chartered Accountants (CAs).

Introduced in 2019, UDIN has grown into a cornerstone of financial trust and transparency in India. As ICAI approaches the issuance of 8 crore UDINs, the release of this new edition is both timely and impactful.

Want a deeper insight into the Income Tax Bill, 2025? Click here

Former President of ICAI, CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal stated in the foreword that UDIN has evolved “from an instrument of verification to an instrument of decision support,” highlighting its critical role in enhancing the credibility of documents used by regulators, government bodies, financial institutions, and corporations alike.

Read More: Milk Chilling not ‘Agricultural Produce’, Liable for Service Tax: CESTAT [Read Order]

Key Highlights from the Fifth Edition:

• Numeric Transformation: A major shift from alphanumeric to purely numeric data entry fields for certain categories such as GST, Tax Audit, and Assurance functions to enhance data uniformity and facilitate better system integration.
• Expanded Document Coverage: Updated listings of document types now include a broader set of certification and assurance engagements, ensuring comprehensive coverage across CA responsibilities.
• Enhanced Verification Tools: Improvements in the QR code functionality and the third-party verification interface aim to make the UDIN system more accessible for regulators, financial institutions, and other stakeholders.
• Updated Regulatory Synchronization: UDIN integration with the CBDT e-filing portal is reinforced, mandating timely UDIN entry and validation to ensure continued form authenticity under income tax laws.

Building Trust in Financial Reporting

Since its phased rollout in 2019 – first for certificates (Feb 1), then for GST and tax audits (April 1), and finally for all other audit functions (July 1) — UDIN has grown from a fraud-prevention mechanism into an essential decision-support system. Regulators like SEBI, RERA, CBDT, and various state governments now require UDINs for document authentication, demonstrating wide-ranging institutional trust in the platform.

Read More: Ayurvedic Treatment Incidental to Resort Activities: Kerala HC upholds Luxury Tax Liability [Read Order]

“UDIN is now a sine qua non for credibility,” says CA. Kemisha Soni, Convenor of the UDIN Directorate. “It has fortified financial integrity not just for regulators and governments, but also for banks, corporations, and the public.”

Member-Centric Tools and Guidance

The 2025 FAQ edition comes as a result of extensive member feedback, regulatory changes, and technological developments. It aims to be a practical handbook, offering detailed guidance on UDIN generation, document categories, compliance timelines, revocation protocols, and bulk processing.

ICAI’s continued outreach includes regular advisories, webinars, and updates through the UDIN portal, reinforcing its commitment to supporting over 300,000 members in public practice.

Vision for the Future

With the fifth edition, ICAI envisions expanding UDIN’s role beyond document verification into deeper realms of data analytics, fraud detection, and decision-making support for policy and governance.

Clear all Your Doubts on RCM, TCS, GTA, OIDAR, SEZ, ISD Etc... Click Here

As UDIN crosses monumental thresholds and regulatory reliance deepens, the ICAI continues to fortify its role as the ethical backbone of India’s financial reporting ecosystem with UDIN as a powerful testament to that legacy.

To Read the full text of the FAQs CLICK HERE

Support our journalism by subscribing to Taxscan premium. Follow us on Telegram for quick updates