How to Check If a Company or Online Business Is Genuine in Nepal: 2026 Guide
Ratings NepalOctober 7, 202616 min read
A professional Facebook page does not prove that a business is genuine.
Neither does:
A large follower count
A beautiful website
A verified-looking logo
An expensive office
A salesperson saying, "We are registered"
A photograph of a registration certificate
Before paying a large advance, buying an expensive product, hiring a company or entering into a business agreement in Nepal, take a few minutes to verify the business independently.
Nepal now provides several official online tools that can help consumers check company and tax information.
In this guide, Ratings Nepal explains the process in simple steps.
Quick Advice: Never depend on only one verification method. A registered company can still provide poor service, while a genuine small business may operate under a different legal structure. Look for several pieces of information that match each other.
Compare the information with what the seller has given you.
Look at:
Company name
Registration number
PAN number where displayed
Company type
Status
Address
Registration date
Then compare these details with:
Website
Invoice
Quotation
Contract
Bank account
Social-media page
The information should make reasonable sense together.
3. Remember: A Registration Certificate Alone Is Not Enough
This is important.
Someone can send you a photograph or PDF of a genuine company's registration certificate.
That does not automatically prove that the person contacting you represents that company.
Imagine someone contacts you on WhatsApp and says:
"We are XYZ Pvt. Ltd."
They send you XYZ's genuine registration certificate.
Then they ask you to send NPR 200,000 to a completely unrelated personal bank account.
The certificate may be genuine, but the person contacting you may not be.
Therefore verify the relationship between:
Person → Business → Documents → Payment Account
For a large payment, call the business through an independently verified telephone number rather than only using the number that sent you the documents.
4. Check PAN or VAT Information
PAN means Permanent Account Number.
Nepal's Inland Revenue Department (IRD) explains that PAN is a taxpayer identification number generated through its electronic system.
Businesses operating within Nepal's tax system may have PAN or VAT registration depending on their legal and tax requirements.
The IRD provides online PAN-related search facilities.
20. Do Not Publicly Accuse a Business Without Evidence
Consumers have every right to describe genuine experiences.
But reviews should remain factual.
Instead of writing:
"This company is 100% fraud."
write what actually happened:
"I paid NPR 25,000 on 10 September. The promised delivery date was 15 September. As of 30 September, I had not received the product and my refund request had not been resolved."
The second statement is much more useful.
It tells other consumers what happened without making unnecessary claims that may not be proven.
Red Flags to Watch For
Be especially cautious when several of these appear together:
Business refuses to give its legal name
No bill or invoice
Refuses to provide PAN details where relevant
Large advance payment required immediately
Payment requested to unrelated personal accounts
Business address cannot be verified
Contact number constantly changes
Social page was recently created
Website information conflicts with documents
Unrealistically low price
Guaranteed returns or outcomes
Pressure to pay immediately
Seller refuses written terms
Refund conditions are unclear
Certificates cannot be independently verified
Many customers report the same unresolved problem
One red flag alone does not automatically prove fraud.
But several unexplained red flags should make you stop and investigate.
A Simple 5-Minute Business Verification Process
Before making an important payment, use this checklist.
Minute 1 — Search the Business
Search:
Google
Ratings Nepal
Google Maps
Social media
Minute 2 — Check Company Information
If it claims to be an incorporated company, check the official OCR company register.
Accuracy Note: This guide was checked in October 2026. Government websites, online verification tools, complaint channels and procedures can change. Always use the latest information displayed by the relevant Nepal government authority.
Editorial Note: Ratings Nepal provides business discovery and consumer-review information. This article is general consumer information and should not be treated as legal advice.
