EU VAT Number Validator — VIES Checker
Live validation against the official EU VIES registry — company name and address included.
Example: The VAT number "DE123456789" returns a live match confirming the registered company name and address — useful for verifying a supplier's VAT number before applying a 0% reverse charge on a B2B invoice instead of standard-rate VAT.
Queries the EU's official VIES (VAT Information Exchange System) registry in real time.
How EU VAT validation works
This tool queries the EU's VIES (VAT Information Exchange System) database — the official registry operated by the European Commission. When you enter a VAT number, the request goes directly to the VIES SOAP service and returns the registered company name and address in real time. A "valid" result means the number is currently active in the VIES system; it does not guarantee the company is solvent or that the number was issued to the party you are dealing with.
VAT validation matters most for B2B transactions within the EU. Charging VAT to a registered business that provides a valid VAT number in another member state is generally zero-rated under the reverse-charge mechanism — but only if you can demonstrate the number was valid at the time of supply. Keeping a timestamped validation record protects you in the event of a VAT audit.
Each EU country formats its VAT number differently. The two-letter country prefix follows ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 with two exceptions: Greece uses EL (from Elláda) rather than GR, and Northern Ireland uses XI following Brexit (it remains in the EU VAT area for goods). The prefix is mandatory — the VIES service requires it to route the query to the correct national database.
Frequently asked questions
- What format should I enter the VAT number in?
- The two-letter country prefix followed by the number, e.g. DE123456789. Spaces, dots, and dashes are stripped automatically.
- Which EU countries are covered?
- All 27 EU member states plus Northern Ireland (XI). Country codes: AT (Austria), BE (Belgium), BG (Bulgaria), CY (Cyprus), CZ (Czech Republic), DE (Germany), DK (Denmark), EE (Estonia), EL (Greece), ES (Spain), FI (Finland), FR (France), HR (Croatia), HU (Hungary), IE (Ireland), IT (Italy), LT (Lithuania), LU (Luxembourg), LV (Latvia), MT (Malta), NL (Netherlands), PL (Poland), PT (Portugal), RO (Romania), SE (Sweden), SI (Slovenia), SK (Slovakia), XI (Northern Ireland).
- What does a "valid" result actually mean?
- It means the number is currently registered as active in the VIES system for that country. It does not confirm the company is solvent, that they issued you the number, or that their registration covers the goods or services in your transaction.
- Why should I validate VAT numbers before invoicing?
- For B2B cross-border EU sales, a valid VAT number is required to apply the reverse-charge mechanism and zero-rate your invoice. If you zero-rate an invoice and the buyer's VAT number is invalid, your tax authority may assess the VAT as due from you. Validation at invoice time — and keeping the result — protects you in an audit.
- What happens if VIES is slow or down?
- The check times out after 5 seconds and returns error: 'service_unavailable' rather than hanging. VIES is documented by the EU as occasionally slow, particularly for some national databases. Retry after a few minutes if you see this error.
- Why is Northern Ireland "XI" and Greece "EL"?
- Both are VIES-specific quirks: Northern Ireland uses XI post-Brexit because it remains in the EU VAT area for goods under the Windsor Framework. Greece has historically used EL (from Elláda) instead of the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code GR.
- Can I validate UK VAT numbers (GB prefix)?
- No — the UK left the EU VAT system on 1 January 2021. GB-prefix numbers must be validated via HMRC's own VAT number checker. This tool covers EU member states and Northern Ireland (XI) only.
- How often should I re-validate a supplier's VAT number?
- There is no fixed legal requirement, but best practice is to validate at the start of each new trading relationship, whenever a supplier provides a new VAT number, and periodically (e.g. annually) for high-value ongoing suppliers. VAT registrations can be revoked.
- Can I use this in my own application?
- Yes — the same validation logic is available via the Stupidly Clever REST API and MCP tool. Every tool on the site has a matching API endpoint.
- Is there a bulk validation option?
- Bulk validation is available via the API — send multiple VAT numbers in a loop or batch. The web tool validates one number at a time.