VAT Number Validator

About This Tool

Check any EU VAT identification number against the official format rules for all 27 member states and the United Kingdom. Paste or type a VAT number, and the tool instantly checks whether it matches the country-specific pattern, detects the issuing country from the prefix, and displays the normalized version. Each EU country uses a unique VAT format with different lengths and character combinations. Germany requires exactly 9 digits after the DE prefix, while the Netherlands uses a 9-digit sequence followed by the letter B and 2 more digits. France allows two alphanumeric characters before 9 digits. Spain bookends its 7-digit core with a leading and trailing character that can be either a letter or digit. Getting these patterns wrong causes rejected invoices, delayed cross-border transactions, and compliance headaches. This validator gives you instant feedback, and your data stays completely private — nothing is stored or shared. Use the auto-detect mode to identify the country from the VAT prefix, or select a specific country to see its expected format and example. A reference table below the tool lists every supported format at a glance.

What Is a VAT Number?

A Value Added Tax (VAT) identification number is a unique code assigned to businesses registered for VAT in the European Union and several other countries. It identifies the business for tax purposes during cross-border trade within the EU single market.

Every VAT number starts with a two-letter country code (based on ISO 3166-1), followed by a sequence of digits and sometimes letters whose length and structure vary by country. The number is issued by the national tax authority when a business registers for VAT. It must appear on all invoices involving intra-community transactions, and buyers use it to verify that their supplier is a legitimate VAT-registered entity.

The VAT number is different from a domestic tax ID. In Germany, for example, the Steuernummer (tax number) is used domestically, while the Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer (USt-IdNr.) starting with DE is used for EU trade. Businesses trading across borders must use the VAT identification number for the reverse charge mechanism to apply correctly.

How VAT Format Validation Works

Each EU member state defines a rigid format for its VAT numbers. Validation means checking that a given number matches this format exactly. The checks performed by this tool include:

Country prefix: The first two or three characters must match a recognized EU country code. Austria is unique because its prefix is three characters (ATU) rather than two.
Character types: After the prefix, each position must contain the correct type — digit, letter, or alphanumeric — as specified by that country.
Length: The total number of characters must fall within the allowed range. Most countries use a fixed length, but Bulgaria (9 or 10 digits), Czech Republic (8 to 10 digits), Lithuania (9 or 12 digits), and Romania (2 to 10 digits) allow variable lengths.
Special characters: The Netherlands format includes a fixed letter B between digit groups. Cyprus ends with a single letter. Spain uses letters or digits at both ends of its numeric core.

Format validation does not confirm that the VAT number was actually issued or that the business is currently active. For that, you need to query the European Commission VIES (VAT Information Exchange System) database. This tool handles the first step: confirming the number is structurally correct before you submit a VIES query.

Country Format Quick Reference

Here are the formats for the most commonly used VAT numbers in EU trade:

Germany (DE): DE + exactly 9 digits. Example: DE123456789. Germany uses a purely numeric format with no letters in the body.
France (FR): FR + 2 alphanumeric characters + 9 digits. The two characters after FR can be letters or digits, including the combinations O and I. Example: FRAB123456789.
Netherlands (NL): NL + 9 digits + B + 2 digits. The letter B is always present and separates the main number from a two-digit suffix. Example: NL123456789B01.
Italy (IT): IT + 11 digits. The Italian Partita IVA is one of the longest purely numeric formats. Example: IT12345678901.
Spain (ES): ES + a letter or digit + 7 digits + a letter or digit. The leading and trailing characters serve as check characters. Example: ESA12345678.
United Kingdom (GB): GB + 9 digits, GB + 12 digits, or special formats GD + 3 digits (government) and HA + 3 digits (health authority). Example: GB123456789. Note that UK VAT numbers remain in use even after Brexit.

Common Mistakes When Entering VAT Numbers

Several recurring errors cause VAT number validation failures:

Missing country prefix: Some businesses write their VAT number without the country code. For example, writing 123456789 instead of DE123456789. This tool auto-prepends the prefix when you select a country.
Confusing Greece (EL) with GR: The ISO country code for Greece is GR, but the VAT prefix uses EL. Many systems reject GR-prefixed numbers.
Including spaces or dashes: VAT numbers are typically stored and validated without spaces, dashes, or dots. This tool strips those characters automatically before checking.
Mixing up domestic and EU formats: Some countries use different numbering systems for domestic tax purposes versus EU VAT. Always use the EU format (with country prefix) for cross-border invoices.
Old UK format after Brexit: UK VAT numbers starting with GB remain valid for UK tax purposes. However, they are no longer valid for EU intra-community trade. UK businesses trading with the EU may need an EU VAT registration in a member state.

VAT Validation vs. VIES Verification

Format validation and VIES verification serve different purposes. Format validation (what this tool does) checks that the number follows the correct structural pattern. VIES verification (a service from the European Commission) confirms that the number was actually issued and that the business is currently registered.

In practice, you should use both steps. First, validate the format locally to catch typos and structural errors before making a network request. Then, query VIES to confirm the registration status. VIES is available at ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/ and provides the business name and address associated with the VAT number.

VIES queries are free but can be slow or unavailable during high-traffic periods. Some member states also have their own national verification services. For automated systems processing many VAT numbers, local format validation reduces unnecessary VIES calls and improves throughput.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this tool verify that a VAT number is actually registered?

No. This tool checks the format only. It verifies that the number follows the correct pattern for its country (prefix, length, character types). To confirm that a VAT number is actively registered and associated with a real business, you need to query the European Commission VIES database at ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/.

Why does Greece use EL instead of GR?

The VAT system uses EL as the prefix for Greece, even though the ISO 3166-1 country code is GR. This is a historical convention dating back to the creation of the EU VAT system. When entering Greek VAT numbers, always use EL (e.g., EL123456789), not GR.

Are UK VAT numbers still valid after Brexit?

GB-prefixed VAT numbers remain valid for UK domestic tax purposes. However, they are no longer accepted for EU intra-community transactions since the UK left the EU single market. UK businesses selling to EU customers may need to register for VAT in an EU member state and obtain a local VAT number for those transactions.

Why does my Austrian VAT number start with ATU instead of AT?

Austria is the only EU country whose VAT prefix has three characters: ATU. The U stands for Umsatzsteuer (the German word for turnover tax, which is the Austrian term for VAT). A valid Austrian VAT number always starts with ATU followed by exactly 8 digits.

Is my data sent to any server?

No. All validation uses pattern matching and your data stays completely private — nothing is transmitted, stored, or logged. You can safely check numbers containing sensitive business information.