How the VAT Validator Works
Select the country or tax system, paste the full tax ID (including the country code prefix where required), and click Validate Format. The tool checks the number against the official format pattern and, where applicable, the check-digit algorithm for that country — all running locally in your browser with no data sent anywhere.
Format check vs. active status: This tool validates the mathematical format and check digit. It does not confirm whether the number is currently registered or active. For active-status verification, use the EU VIES portal.
Supported Formats – Quick Reference
| Country / Region | Tax Name | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇺 EU (all 27 states) | VAT | 2-letter code + 8–12 chars | DE123456789 |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | VAT | GB + 9 digits | GB123456789 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | ABN/GST | 11 digits | 51824753556 |
| 🇮🇳 India | GSTIN | 2 digits + 5 letters + 4 digits + letter + 1 + Z + char | 27AAAAA0000A1Z5 |
| 🇺🇸 United States | EIN | 2 digits + hyphen + 7 digits | 12-3456789 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Business Number | 9 digits (core registration) | 123456789 |
Why VAT Validation Matters for B2B
Accepting an invalid or fictitious VAT number on a supplier or customer invoice can expose your business to penalties from tax authorities, denied VAT reclaims, and potential liability for fraudulent transactions. In the EU, businesses applying zero-rate (reverse charge) VAT on cross-border B2B sales must verify the buyer's VAT number before issuing the invoice. An invalid number means the zero-rate may be disallowed and the full VAT liability falls on the seller.
For developers building billing or ERP systems, validating the format client-side before submission reduces server load, prevents malformed data entering your database, and provides immediate user feedback — all improving the checkout or onboarding UX.
EU VAT and the VIES System
The EU operates a cross-border VAT database called VIES (VAT Information Exchange System). Any EU-registered business can query VIES to confirm that a counterpart's VAT number is currently valid and active. Our tool validates the format offline; for active-status checks, the VIES API or portal should be used as the authoritative source for legal compliance.
Indian GSTIN — The Most Complex Format
India's GSTIN is the most structurally complex of all supported formats. The 15 characters encode: the 2-digit state code (01–37), the 10-character PAN of the registered entity, the 13th digit for the entity number within the PAN (1–9 or A–Z), the 14th character which is always Z, and the 15th which is a check character. Our validator checks all of these structural rules simultaneously.
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Frequently Asked Questions
DE123456789 for Germany or FR12345678901 for France). The tool checks the format and check-digit. For official active-status, use the EU VIES portal.GB followed by 9 digits (e.g. GB123456789). Since Brexit, UK VAT is no longer part of the EU VIES system but uses the same 9-digit numeric structure.Z, and the 15th is a check character. Example: 27AAAAA0000A1Z5.XX-XXXXXXX (e.g. 12-3456789). Our validator checks the format structure.