How to check if a UK or EU VAT registration number is valid

If you are dealing with a new customer or supplier and want to verify whether the VAT registration number (VRN) they have provided is valid, there are several ways to do so.

• Use the HMRC online VAT checking service.
• Call the HMRC VAT helpline.
• For EU VAT checking, use the VIES system, run by the European Commission.

1. Use HMRC’s online VAT checking service

The best way to verify the validity of a UK VAT number is to use HMRC’s online service, available here.

This service will verify if the number is valid and also provide the name and address of the business associated with it.

A UK VAT number should have nine digits. Sometimes you’ll see the letters GB used as a prefix before the digits, e.g. GB 123456789

If you need to prove that your own business is registered for VAT, this online service can also do just that.

2. Call the HMRC VAT Helpline

Another option, and the only one before the online service was implemented, is to phone HMRC. You can call the HMRC VAT Helpline on 0300 200 3700 between 8 am and 6 pm, Monday to Friday.

3. For the EU, use the VAT Information Exchange System (VIES)

The VIES website, operated by the European Commission, allows you to verify the validity of a VAT registration number for any business registered in the EU.

Since the UK left the EU following Brexit, the VIES system only provides data on the remaining EU states, plus Northern Ireland.

The VIES search engine uses real-time data feeds from individual member states’ VAT systems, so the information should be up to date at all times.

The main reason why the VIES service was established was to counteract the growing threat of ‘carousel fraud’, whereby innocent businesses and individuals find themselves caught in a chain of fraudulent transactions.

To access the European Commission’s VIES to validate a VAT number, simply go to this page of their website.

You then select the country from the drop-down menu where the business is located and enter the VAT registration number you want to verify. The site will then let you know whether the number is ‘Valid’ or ‘Invalid’

If it is a valid VAT registration number, depending on local data protection rules, some countries may also provide the name and address of the business associated with the VAT number.

You can access a list of the VAT number formats used by individual EU states here.

Keep a copy of your search

Once you have checked a VAT number, you can then print out or save the results of the search to prove to HMRC that the VAT number in question was valid at the time of your search.

By doing this, you can prove that you have acted in good faith if ever your dealings with a VAT-registered business are questioned by HMRC.

The VIES will also be helpful if you undertake zero-rate transactions with other EU businesses, as one of the conditions of zero-rating is that your clients or customers must be VAT registered.

What to do if a VAT registration number is not valid?

If you enter a VAT number into the HMRC or VIES website and are told it is invalid, the first step is to go back and verify with your customer or supplier. It’s possible that they accidentally provided you with the wrong VAT number.

If the number continues to be ‘invalid’ after you have double-checked it, you should inform your customer or supplier, as the discrepancy will need to be corrected in the tax authorities’ systems.

In some cases, particularly if the business is very new, the registration data may not have been processed yet.

Unfortunately, it is always possible that another business may be using another business’s VAT number fraudulently. Or they may be using a bogus number. Be cautious if you believe this may be the case, even if it seems unlikely.

You can only reclaim VAT if you have a valid VAT invoice

You can only reclaim VAT on supplies if you have a valid VAT invoice from a supplier. The details that must be shown on a valid VAT invoice include;

• The business name and address

• A unique invoice number

• The VAT registration number of the business

• A description of the goods or services supplied and

• The date.

Before claiming back the VAT, ensure that all these details are accurately shown on the invoice. It is also good practice to verify that the supplier’s VAT number is valid, especially when reclaiming a large amount of VAT.

If you don’t follow the rules, HMRC can refuse your request to reclaim the VAT. This will leave you out of pocket.