EU VAT Checker — Validate VAT Numbers Instantly
Make B2B onboarding, accounting and cross-border invoicing frictionless. The EU VAT Checker validates VAT identification numbers (VIES) quickly — single lookups or bulk CSV checks — and returns clear, exportable results you can trust.
Why validate VAT numbers?
When you trade across EU member states, a correct VAT number is essential to:
- Apply the correct VAT treatment (zero-rate B2B supplies vs. domestic VAT).
- Avoid fines, rejected invoices, and accounting errors.
- Meet reporting requirements for VAT returns and intra-community acquisitions.
- Reduce fraud risk from invalid or spoofed VAT registrations.
Our tool performs a VIES VAT check (the official EU VAT Information Exchange System where available) and falls back to safe server-side validations when VIES is unavailable. That gives you the most reliable result possible in real-world hosting environments.
[eu_vat_checker]
[vat_checker_pro]
EU VAT + Company Info Checker
Validate VAT numbers via VIES and fetch company details using OpenCorporates.
How the EU VAT Checker works
1) Live VIES lookup
When you submit a VAT number, the tool formats the input, detects the country code (e.g., DE, FR, IT), and calls the VIES web service for a live validation. VIES confirms whether the number is active and returns the registered entity name and address where available.
2) Safe fallbacks for restrictive hosts
Some servers block SOAP/WSDL or external connections. In that case, the checker uses:
- A best-effort SOAP POST fallback, or
- Format & checksum validation per country rules (to reject clearly invalid inputs),
- And returns informative messages explaining the confidence level.
3) Bulk checks and caching
Upload a CSV or paste a list — the tool processes each line, caches results for repeated queries (configurable TTL), and creates a downloadable CSV report or printable PDF for record-keeping.
Features people love
- Single VAT lookup — instant VIES response (status, name, address where available).
- Bulk CSV import — validate hundreds of VATs in one pass.
- Export — CSV export and printable PDF of results for audits and client records.
- Copy JSON — quickly copy structured JSON for integrations.
- GDPR-friendly — no third-party logging; you control exports.
- Smart formatting — auto-detects and normalizes country code + number combos.
- Clear recommendations — when a number is invalid, we explain why and list next steps (recheck, contact client, request proof).
How to use the EU VAT Checker
- Paste or type the VAT number (example:
DE123456789) into the Single VAT check or upload a CSV for bulk. - Click Validate. The tool calls VIES (or fallback) and returns status: Valid, Invalid, or Unknown (VIES offline).
- Review details: registered company name, address (if returned by VIES), and suggested next actions.
- Export results (CSV/PDF) or copy JSON for your ERP/accounting system.
Accuracy & limitations
- High accuracy when VIES responds: the validator reports the authoritative status and registration info returned by the EU system.
- Limitations:
- VIES occasionally experiences downtime; we inform you and run fallback checks.
- Not all member states return full company details via VIES (some return only validation status).
- Format checks reduce false positives but cannot replace official confirmation if a number was recently revoked or newly issued.
- Best practice: accept Valid (VIES) as evidence for intra-EU B2B zero-rating; if VIES returns Unknown or Invalid, ask the supplier for official documentation (VAT certificate) and recheck later.
Security & privacy
We design the EU VAT Checker with privacy in mind:
- No persistent logging of queries unless export is explicitly performed.
- Exports are generated on demand and delivered to you — not stored on public servers.
- Nonces/CSRF protection for AJAX requests and server-side validation to prevent abuse.
- Option to enable transient caching with an admin-configurable TTL to reduce external calls and speed up repeated checks.
SEO & sales copy snippet
Validate VAT numbers in seconds. The EU VAT Checker integrates live VIES validation, bulk CSV checks, and secure export options — built for accountants, procurement teams and compliance officers who need accurate VAT verification without manual back-and-forth. Try the VAT number validator now.
Suggested on-page SEO goals
Primary goal (use the Super main keyword): Rank for EU VAT Checker and variations on product pages and blog posts.
Secondary goals: Capture long-tail intent like validate VAT number online, VIES VAT check free, bulk VAT validation CSV, and local landing pages for tax advisors and accountants.
Content strategy: Publish tutorial articles (how to validate VAT for B2B invoices), case studies (reducing VAT errors with automated validation), and a knowledge center for cross-border VAT rules.
Example meta elements
- Title: EU VAT Checker — VAT Number Validator & Bulk VIES Lookup
- Meta Description: EU VAT Checker — validate EU VAT numbers instantly with the official VIES lookup. Bulk CSV checks, secure exports, and GDPR-safe results. Try it free.
- Slug:
eu-vat-checker
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the difference between VIES and your validator?
A: VIES is the official EU service that confirms whether a VAT number is active. Our validator first calls VIES; if VIES is unreachable we perform format checks and a best-effort SOAP fallback. We always show the source (VIES vs. fallback) and confidence level.
Q: Is this tool free to use?
A: The public checker is free for single checks. For heavy bulk usage, consider a paid plan to increase throughput, enable logging, and access admin features (if you install our plugin with paid add-ons).
Q: Can I use the results as proof for zero-rated B2B supplies?
A: A Valid (VIES) response is commonly accepted as evidence for intra-EU B2B VAT treatment. Keep a time-stamped export or screenshot as proof for audits.
Q: Why does VIES sometimes return no company name or address?
A: Not all member states return detailed company data via VIES; some provide validation only. If you need more detail, request a VAT registration certificate from the supplier.
Q: How accurate are bulk checks?
A: Accuracy equals the underlying source. Bulk checks use the same VIES call per record. If VIES is down mid-run, those records will be flagged and retried or marked with a fallback result.
Q: Is my data stored?
A: By default, queries are transient (cached briefly for performance) and not permanently logged. Exports you generate are downloadable and not retained unless you choose to save them.
Q: How can I integrate the checker with my accounting software?
A: Use the copy-JSON button to paste results into integrations, or export CSV and import to any accounting/ERP tool. We can provide an API endpoint or plugin hook for deeper automation.
Q: What input formats are supported?
A: DE123456789, IT12345678901, FRXX123456789, with or without spaces or punctuation. The tool normalizes entries upon submission.
Q: My VIES check shows ‘Unknown’ — what should I do?
A: ‘Unknown’ usually indicates a temporary VIES outage or a region not responding. Wait and recheck; if urgency exists, request supplier documentation.
Q: Can I schedule recurring checks?
A: Yes — with the plugin admin tools you can enable cron-driven bulk rechecks (useful for large customer lists).