VAT number example: the format in each country

The VAT number format in each country

A well-formed number is not yet a valid number: check it afterwards with the tool above.

The examples are fictitious, except the French one, which is a real number: only the shape matters. Spaces, dots and dashes are not part of the number.

How to read a VAT number

A European Union VAT number always has two parts:

• the country code, two letters: FR, BE, DE… Greece is the exception with EL;
• the national number, from 2 to 12 characters depending on the country. It often reuses an existing company number: the SIREN in France, the enterprise number in Belgium, the NIF in Spain.

Some countries mix letters and digits (Spain, Ireland, Cyprus, the Netherlands with their B). Elsewhere, a letter in the middle of the number means a typo.

Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom: outside the Union

Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom have their own numbers, which are not EU VAT numbers. They are not checked like European numbers. The Swiss number is the UID CHE followed by MWST, TVA or IVA; see the Swiss UID number.

Check that the number exists

A number in the right format may never have been issued, or may no longer be active. Only a check in the official registers tells. Type the number in the tool at the top of this page: it checks the format, then the validity of the number. For a refused number, see what to do with an invalid VAT number.

Keep reading

• VATFrench VAT number: format and how to check itThe French, Belgian and Swiss formats, the mentions on the invoice and the check before invoicing.
• 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 Belgian VAT number (BE + 10 digits)BE + 10 digits, the first 0 or 1: the format, 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.
• 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.
• VATInvalid, unverifiable or unregistered VAT number: what to doWrong number, service unavailable or number not registered: the effect on the VAT exemption and what to do.