Check a Belgian VAT number: format and check of the BE number

Number format

This page gives the format, the frequent errors and the steps to follow.

The Belgian VAT number reuses the enterprise number of the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, preceded by the BE prefix: 10 digits, 12 characters in all. Historic numbers start with 0; new enterprise numbers may start with 1. It is often written with dots, for example BE 0123.456.789, but only the digits count. For the enterprise number itself, see the Belgian enterprise number.

Fictitious example, only to show the shape: BE0123456789. It belongs to no company.

Frequent errors

• Believing that a business registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises is necessarily liable to VAT: having an enterprise number does not prove that VAT is activated.
• Writing 9 digits by forgetting the leading zero of an old number.
• Rejecting a number that starts with 1 because software accepts only 0.
• Leaving out the BE prefix, or keeping the dots and spaces.
• Taking the national register number of a person for a VAT number.

How to check it

For a Belgian number, use the official European Union VAT number checking service. It says whether the number is registered on the date of the check and, when the answer includes them, returns the name and address: compare them with those of your partner.

The public search of the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises confirms that the enterprise exists, its name and its address, but not its VAT status. The competent authority is SPF Finances.

The official check gives three answers: valid, invalid or cannot be checked right now. The last one happens when a national service is unavailable: it is not an invalid number, you need to try again later. A negative answer does not prove either that the company does not exist: it may simply not be registered for intra-EU VAT.

To check a number with no effort, or a whole list, use the VAT number check tool. For an entire customer list, the customer file tool handles it in one go.

Checked on October 15, 2026.

What to do if the number is invalid

An "invalid" result does not mean fraud. Go through these steps in order:

1. reread the number: BE, 10 digits, no dots;
2. ask the customer for its VAT number as it appears on its invoices, with its name;
3. look the enterprise up by number in the public search to check that it exists, then ask whether its VAT liability is active;
4. try again later if the service was unavailable;
5. keep a record of the check and, without a valid number, talk to your accountant before invoicing without VAT.

Other countries

The principle is the same in every country: a prefix, then a number of characters specific to the country, then an official check.

• Germany (USt-IdNr)
• Spain (NIF-IVA)
• Italy (partita IVA)
• Netherlands (btw-id)
• France: French VAT number

Keep reading

• VATCheck a German VAT number (USt-IdNr)DE + 9 digits: the format of the USt-IdNr, frequent errors, the official check and what to do when it is invalid.
• VATCheck a Spanish VAT number (NIF-IVA)ES + 9 characters: the format of the NIF-IVA, the letter rules, the official check and what to do when it is invalid.
• VATCheck an Italian VAT number (partita IVA)IT + 11 digits: the format of the partita IVA, frequent errors, the official check and what to do when it is invalid.
• VATCheck a Dutch VAT number (btw-id)NL + 9 digits + B + 2 digits: the format of the btw-id, the difference with the omzetbelastingnummer and the official check.
• VATFrench VAT number: format and how to check itThe French, Belgian and Swiss formats, the mentions on the invoice and the check before invoicing.