FREE VIES CHECK
Check a VAT ID for free.
VIES validation in seconds.
Validate any European VAT ID against the European Commission VAT Information Exchange System (VIES). Free, no registration required, including a validation record for your files.
MORE SECURITY FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Check VAT IDs.
Identify risks early.
- Requirement for zero-rated intra-Community supplies
- Support for reverse-charge processes
- Protection against fraud
- Detection of shell companies
- Evidence for tax audits
Live request through VIES. For legally binding confirmation, also use the European Commission VIES platform or the German BZSt.
What VIES actually checks.
VIES checks the VAT ID against national tax databases in real time and confirms whether it is registered as valid at the time of the request.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about VAT ID validation.
A VAT identification number uniquely identifies businesses involved in intra-Community supplies of goods and services within the EU.
VIES is the European Commission platform that validates VAT IDs against national tax databases.
Basic validation confirms the VAT ID status. Qualified validation additionally checks whether the company name and address match registered data where available.
Ideally for every new business relationship and again before larger zero-rated intra-Community supplies, because a VAT ID status can change.
Ask your business partner to verify the details or contact the relevant national authority before treating a transaction as an exempt intra-Community supply.
Invoices carrying foreign VAT IDs often contain foreign VAT that may be recoverable through the VAT refund procedure. This is where VATelligence helps.