EU VAT Number Check

Check by Country

VAT number format, current rates, and company examples for each EU member state.

What is VIES?

VIES (VAT Information Exchange System) is the official European Commission database for verifying VAT numbers across all EU member states. When a business registers for VAT in any EU country, their number becomes searchable in VIES, allowing other businesses to confirm that a VAT number is valid and currently active. VIES is operated by the EC Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union and is the authoritative source for cross-border VAT verification within the EU.

A VIES check matters most in B2B transactions between EU member states. Under EU VAT rules, a supplier can apply the zero-rate (reverse charge) to cross-border sales only when the buyer holds a valid, active VAT number. If the number cannot be confirmed in VIES at the time of the transaction, the supplier may be required to charge VAT at their local rate. Running a VIES check before issuing an invoice is therefore a compliance step, not just a convenience.

The tool above queries VIES in real time and returns the registration status, company name, and address exactly as held by the national tax authority. You can also use the vatnode API to automate this check in your invoicing or checkout system.