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FREE TOOL · NO SIGNUP

VAT ID check: valid or not? Live look-up via VIES.

Validate any EU VAT identification number instantly against the official VIES register. Including a confirmation PDF — legally sound for your accounting.

★★★★★ 4.9 / 5 · 218 reviews
27
EU countries
PDF
Confirmation
2s
per request
TOOL · 05 / 09
VAT ID Checker
VIES · ConfirmationFREE

By using this tool you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy

Your data is safe

No storage

VAT IDs are only used for validation and discarded immediately.

Official source

Validation is performed directly against VIES, the official EU Commission database.

No account needed

The tool works completely anonymously and without signup.

GDPR compliant

No personal data is stored. Processing on EU servers.

VAT ID CHECKER — THE GUIDE

What is a VAT ID check via VIES?

ON THIS PAGE
  1. What is VAT ID Checker?
  2. Why do you need this?
  3. Step-by-step in 4 steps
  4. What gets checked?
  5. Glossary
  6. FAQ

What is a VAT ID check via VIES?

VIES is the European Commission’s official online validation system for VAT identification numbers. Anyone treating intra-community supplies as tax-exempt must run a qualified check on the partner’s VAT ID — otherwise they are liable for the VAT.

Why check every VAT ID?

Skipping validation costs real money:

  • Tax liability. If the VAT ID is invalid, your company owes the VAT retroactively.
  • Reverse-charge duty. § 18a of the German VAT Act requires a qualified confirmation.
  • Accounting audits. Tax inspectors want a confirmation receipt per transaction.
  • Fraud protection. Carousel fraud starts with forged VAT IDs.

Step-by-step: VAT ID Checker in 4 steps

  1. 1
    Enter the VAT ID
    With country code (e.g. DE123456789) — all 27 EU countries are supported.
  2. 2
    VIES look-up
    Live query against the EU register. Response usually under 2 seconds.
  3. 3
    Check address data
    Optionally compare company name and address against the register entry.
  4. 4
    PDF confirmation
    Legally sound proof with timestamp — straight into accounting.

Which checks run?

Beyond simple validation we cover all qualified-check requirements:

Format check
Correct country code, digit count, check digit.
VIES look-up
Live query against the EU register.
Qualified check
Match company name and address (§ 18a).
Status
Active, inactive, deleted — with date.
Timestamp
Request time for the audit trail.
PDF generation
Legally sound confirmation with watermark.
Bulk mode
Check up to 50 VAT IDs at once.
Audit trail
Request ID for later research.
GLOSSARY

VAT vocabulary

VIES
VAT Information Exchange System of the EU Commission. The official register.
Qualified check
Validation including name + address (§ 18a German VAT Act).
Reverse charge
VAT liability on the recipient instead of the supplier.
Intra-community supply
Tax-exempt delivery to a business in another EU country.
BZSt
Bundeszentralamt für Steuern — German interface to VIES.
VAT Act § 18a
Mandatory paragraph for the qualified check.
Carousel fraud
VAT fraud via a chain of shell companies.
Confirmation receipt
PDF with timestamp as audit evidence.
WHO USES IT

Who checks VAT IDs?

B2B web shops
Auto-check on every order with a VAT ID.
Accounting
Check status before every reverse-charge invoice.
Tax advisors
Archive confirmation receipts for clients.
Sales
Validate partner data on contract close.
ERP integrators
Bulk updates of the customer master.
FAQ

FAQ for VAT ID Checker

What happens if “invalid”?
You may not treat the supply as tax-exempt. Have the customer correct their VAT ID, or invoice with German VAT.
How long is the confirmation valid?
The confirmation applies at the time of the request. For long-running business relationships, re-check quarterly.
Which countries are supported?
All 27 EU countries + Northern Ireland (XI). UK without Northern Ireland is no longer part of VIES.
Is the simple check enough?
No. For § 18a you need qualified (name + address).
What does the check cost?
Web tool: €0. Via API in the Mandokit plan from €49/month.
Do you store the checked IDs?
Only the request ID for the audit trail. No partner data.
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