FAQ
What does the VAT checker verify?
It asks VIES, the European Commission's official system, whether the VAT number is registered and active for intra-EU trade. For many countries it also returns the company name and address.
Why is a correct-looking number invalid?
The company may not be registered for intra-EU transactions, the registration may have ended, or the number is used without the country prefix. Some countries (e.g. Germany, Spain) don't return the name and address.
Does it work for UK VAT numbers?
Only Northern Ireland numbers (prefix XI) are in VIES after Brexit. Great Britain numbers (GB) are checked by HMRC, not VIES.
Why does VIES say the service is unavailable?
Each EU country runs its own database and they have regular short outages. Wait a few minutes and try again.