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VAT number validator

Check an EU or UK VAT number against its country's length and character pattern, then optionally look up whether it's registered.

Input

VAT number check

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Enter an EU or UK VAT number (with country code) to check its format.

This checks a VAT number against the official structure for its country (length and character pattern). It is a format check only — confirming a number is actually registered requires the EU’s VIES service.
Countries
28
Check
Format

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This VAT validator checks a VAT number's format against the pattern for its country. It covers the 27 EU member states plus the UK. Type the number with its two-letter prefix, like DE123456789 or NL123456789B01, and it reads the prefix and tells you right away whether the rest has the right length and characters. If the format passes, a Check registration button can ask a live lookup service whether the number is actually registered.

How to check a VAT number

  1. Type or paste the number with its country prefix. Spaces, dots and hyphens are ignored, and lowercase is fine.
  2. The tool matches the rest of the number against that country's pattern. Some countries allow letters in certain positions, like the B in Dutch numbers.
  3. You'll see Valid format, Wrong format for that country, or Unrecognised country code.
  4. On a valid format, press Check registration for a live lookup.

Format check vs registration check

The format check runs in your browser against a pattern table, and nothing leaves your device. It catches typos, wrong lengths and missing prefixes, but it doesn't verify check digits, so a well-formed number can still be fake. The registration check is a separate step that only runs when you press the button. It sends the prefix and number through our server to VATComply, a third-party VAT lookup API. Where the register shares them, it returns the trader's name and address. For an official record, the European Commission's VIES site is the source to cite.

Common reasons a VAT number fails

  • Wrong length. It varies by country: Denmark wants 8 digits after DK, Sweden wants 12 after SE.
  • Missing prefix, or the wrong one. Greece uses EL, not GR.
  • A letter where a digit belongs, or the reverse. Dutch numbers need the B in the 10th position, for example.
  • Northern Ireland's XI prefix isn't in the table yet, so XI numbers show as unrecognised.

Frequently asked questions

Does a valid format mean the VAT number is registered?

No. It only means the number has the right shape for its country. Press Check registration for a live lookup, or use VIES for an official answer.

Which countries does the VAT validator support?

All 27 EU member states and the United Kingdom (GB). Each one has its own pattern for length and allowed characters.

Does this tool send my VAT number anywhere?

The format check doesn't. It runs entirely in your browser. If you press Check registration, the prefix and number go to our server, which passes them to VATComply to look up the registration.

Why does a VAT number that looks right still fail?

Usually it's a missing or wrong prefix, an extra or missing digit, or a letter in a digit-only position. Compare it with the format your invoice or the trader's documents show.

Built and maintained by Bipul Kumar. Found a wrong number or a broken result? Tell me and I'll fix it.