Check VAT ID Online – Validate EU VAT Number & Company Details
Instantly validate EU VAT numbers and retrieve official company name and address using VIES data. Free, fast and audit-proof.
Definition
What is a VAT Identification Number (VAT ID)?
A VAT Identification Number (VAT ID) is a unique identifier assigned to businesses registered for value-added tax within the European Union.
It is used to identify companies in cross-border B2B transactions and is a mandatory requirement for VAT-exempt intra-Community supplies.
Each VAT ID is issued by a national tax authority and consists of a country code and a unique identifier.
Use Case
Audit-proof VAT ID validation for EU businesses
With the CheckVAT ID API and web application, you can validate single or multiple VAT IDs simultaneously and automatically document all results in an audit-proof manner.
The solution supports bulk checks, recurring validations and system integrations, making it suitable for finance, tax and compliance teams.
All validation data is sourced directly from official authorities, such as the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) in Germany and the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) in Austria.
Background
Why VAT number validation matters
Since January 1, 2020, a valid VAT Identification Number (VAT ID) of the buyer has been a mandatory requirement for VAT exemption on intra-Community supplies, following the EU VAT Quick Fixes reform.
Suppliers must ensure that the VAT ID of their customer is valid at the time of the taxable transaction (delivery or invoicing).
If a VAT ID is invalid or cannot be proven as valid, the VAT exemption does not apply, which may result in additional tax liabilities and administrative effort.
Benefits
Everything you need for compliant, scalable VAT ID validation
CheckVAT ID combines automation, reliability and audit-proof documentation in one solution — making VAT number validation across the EU fast and accurate.
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Flexible access — via web or APIUse CheckVAT ID as an intuitive web application or integrate it seamlessly into your system via API for automated VAT validations.
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Single, multiple or batch checks
Validate one or hundreds of VAT IDs at once. Easily upload CSV files for bulk checks in seconds.
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Qualified validation with name and address matching
Perform simple or qualified checks for all EU27 member states — ensuring your business partner’s VAT details are correct and complete.
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Official data from BZSt and BMF
All validations are conducted directly through the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt, Germany) and the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF, Austria).
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Audit-proof documentation
Each check is archived with an official BZSt timestamp and securely stored for ten years — fully compliant and verifiable.
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Flexible, usage-based pricing
Choose a billing model that fits your business needs, from occasional checks to large-scale, automated validation.
Comparison
CheckVAT ID vs. VIES — what’s the difference?
| Feature | CheckVAT ID | VIES |
|---|---|---|
| Qualified validation (name & address matching) | Available | Not available |
| Web application with user login | Available | Not available |
| SAP S/4HANA integration | Available | Not available |
| Audit-proof documentation | Yes | No |
| Official timestamp | Yes | No |
| Bulk / batch checks | Supported | Supported |
| API access | Yes | No |
| System availability | High availability with fallback | Depends on member state availability |
Reference
"Using CheckVAT ID, we can quickly check the VAT ID of our European clients and with little effort. The ability to check entire files is a real labour-saver!"
About AHP Merkle
AHP Merkle has been developing, designing and manufacturing high-quality hydraulic cylinders for global markets since 1973.
In addition to its headquarters in Gottenheim (Germany), the family-owned company operates sales offices in Giussano (Italy), Marinha Grande (Portugal), and in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Suzhou (China). AHP Merkle uses CheckVAT ID to efficiently process its trade transactions with European customers.
Team Dispatching
Questions about VAT ID validation?
Frequently asked questions about VAT ID validation
Learn how CheckVAT ID works, which official data sources are used, how it differs from VIES and why compliant VAT ID validation is essential for intra-EU B2B transactions.
What is CheckVAT ID?
CheckVAT ID is an eClear solution that enables businesses to validate the VAT identification numbers of their B2B trading partners across the EU and automatically document the results in an audit-proof manner. The solution is available as a web application and can also be integrated into existing system landscapes via API.
Which data sources are used?
The validation process relies on official government data sources, including the German Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF), and the European Commission’s VAT Information Exchange System (VIES). Integrated fallback solutions ensure that validation requests can still be processed reliably even if individual sources are temporarily unavailable.
What is the difference between CheckVAT ID and VIES?
VIES provides a basic VAT ID validity check and offers an API, but it is not sufficient for legally compliant documentation in a business environment. It lacks official timestamps, audit-proof archiving, and qualified validation including company name and address matching.
CheckVAT ID was specifically developed to meet these requirements. Every validation is documented with an official timestamp, company data is automatically retrieved and matched, and the API follows modern technical standards. An integrated fallback solution also ensures reliable validation requests even if individual EU member state systems are temporarily unavailable.
Why is VAT ID validation mandatory?
Since January 2020, businesses applying VAT exemption for intra-EU supplies must be able to prove that the customer’s VAT ID was validated and documented at the time of the transaction. If this proof is missing or the VAT number is invalid, the VAT exemption may be denied retroactively.
This can result in additional tax payments, penalties, and significant liability risks for your business. A simple validation through VIES alone is not sufficient, as it does not provide audit-proof documentation or an official timestamp.
Can I validate multiple VAT IDs at once?
Yes. In addition to single validations, CheckVAT ID supports multiple searches and batch validations via Excel upload. For very large volumes, we recommend using the API integration.
Do I need a technical integration?
No. The web application is browser-based and ready to use immediately, regardless of your ERP or platform environment. Businesses that want to integrate CheckVAT ID into existing systems can alternatively use the API. An SAP integration is also available.
Is there an SAP integration available?
Yes. CheckVAT ID is available as a ready-to-use SAP integration for S/4HANA Cloud. The integration is fully managed via SAP Integration Suite as middleware and automatically connects your S/4HANA environment with the CheckVAT ID API.
No custom development is required on your side. The solution automatically retrieves all relevant business partner tax numbers from your system, validates them, and writes the results directly back into the business partner record.
For questions regarding the SAP integration, please feel free to contact us directly.
Is there a free trial available?
Yes. You can test CheckVAT ID free of charge and without any complications. Simply create an account yourself and get started immediately — no sales call or credit card required.
The free version includes up to 10 validation requests per month and is ideal for testing the solution. You can upgrade at any time to access the full feature set.
Get started
Get free access to CheckVAT ID
Create your free account to validate more VAT IDs, save your check history, and unlock additional features for secure, audit-proof business processes.
No credit card required