Understanding ICAN UDIN: Verification Guide for Bankers and Corporate Stakeholders

1. Background of the UDIN Mandate#

To combat the circulation of unverified or fraudulent audit reports and enhance stakeholder trust in financial statements, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN) mandated the implementation of the Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN).

Every practicing Chartered Accountant holding a valid Certificate of Practice (COP) must generate an 18-digit UDIN for every formal document signed.

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2. Structure of the 18-Digit UDIN#

An authentic UDIN follows a standardized cryptographic structure:

• Digits 1–2: Fiscal Year identifier of issuance.
• Digits 3–8: Practicing Member's ICAN Registration Number (e.g. 001612 for CA. Sima Rijal).
• Digits 9–10: Document Type Code (e.g., Audit Report, Tax Certificate, Due Diligence Opinion).
• Digits 11–18: Unique randomized cryptographic alphanumeric sequence.

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3. Step-by-Step Verification Procedure for Lending Officers#

Commercial banks evaluating loan applications must independently verify the authenticity of audited balance sheets:

1. Navigate directly to the official ICAN portal: https://udin.ican.org.np.
2. Enter the 18-digit UDIN printed on the face of the Independent Auditor's Report.
3. Verify the displayed parameters against the physical document:
   • Name of the Practicing Chartered Accountant (CA. Sima Rijal)
   • Name of the Audit Firm (Sima & Associates)
   • Client Entity Name and PAN
   • Audited Turnover and Net Asset figures
4. If figures match, the document is officially verified. If the portal returns no record, the document is not recognized by ICAN.