Question 1

How do I check if a VAT number is valid?

Accepted Answer

For EU VAT numbers, you can check validity in real time via the EU VIES system. Enter the country code and VAT number in our VAT validator above. For UK, Australian and other non-EU numbers, we check the format against official rules.

Question 2

What is a VAT number?

Accepted Answer

A VAT number (also called a VAT registration number or TRN) is a unique identifier assigned by a tax authority when a business registers for VAT or GST. EU VAT numbers start with a 2-letter country code (e.g. DE for Germany, FR for France).

Question 3

Why might a valid VAT number show as invalid?

Accepted Answer

The EU VIES system occasionally has downtime or data lags. A newly registered business may take a few days to appear. Some countries update VIES less frequently. If a number fails but you have official documentation, contact the supplier to confirm.

Country	Tax name	Format	Example	Live check
🇩🇪 Germany	USt-IdNr.	DE + 9 digits	DE123456789	✅ VIES
🇮🇪 Ireland	VAT No.	IE + 8–9 chars	IE1234567T	✅ VIES
🇳🇱 Netherlands	BTW-nr.	NL + 9 digits + B + 2 digits	NL123456789B01	✅ VIES
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	VAT No.	GB + 9 digits	GB123456789	Format only
🇦🇺 Australia	ABN	11 digits	51824753556	Format only
🇨🇦 Canada	BN (RT)	9 digits + RT + 4 digits	123456789RT0001	Format only
🇮🇳 India	GSTIN	15 alphanumeric chars	22AAAAA0000A1Z5	Format only
🇳🇿 New Zealand	GST No.	8–9 digits	123456789	Format only
🇿🇦 South Africa	VAT No.	10 digits, starts with 4	4123456789	Format only

VAT Number Validator

Enter a VAT number to validate