How to check a VAT number
Type or paste a number and the result appears as you go. Nothing is sent anywhere.
- Enter the number in VAT number, with its two-letter country prefix.
- For a list, open Bulk Numbers and paste one number per line or separate them with commas.
- Read the status and the reasons. In bulk mode, use Copy CSV or Download CSV.
What gets checked
Spaces, dots, dashes and underscores are stripped and letters are uppercased, so de 136.695.976 and DE136695976 are the same input.
Then three things, in order. The prefix must be one the tool knows. The rest must match that country's pattern and length. Where the tool has the country's checksum rule, the check digit must work out.
Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Sweden get the checksum. The other prefixes get structure and length only, and the result says so. Greece uses EL, not GR. Northern Ireland uses XI.
Why valid does not mean registered
A number can have the right shape and a correct check digit and still be unissued, closed or someone else's. Only the tax authority knows that. After a structurally valid result the tool shows a link to VIES, the EU lookup. Opening it does not send anything back to this page.
Frequently asked questions
Does a valid result mean the VAT number is registered?
No. The tool checks format and, for some countries, a checksum. A number can pass and still belong to nobody. The result links to VIES so you can check registration yourself.
Which countries get a checksum check?
Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Sweden. Other supported prefixes are checked for structure and length only, and the result says so.
Can I paste a number with spaces or dots?
Yes. Spaces, dots, dashes and underscores are removed and the letters are uppercased before the check. The result shows the normalized number.
Why does Greece use EL instead of GR?
EL is the prefix used on Greek VAT numbers inside the EU system, so that is the one this tool expects.