Example: VAT numbers for Germany start with the letters “DE” and are followed by 9 digits, such as DE123456789. Example: The VAT country code for Estonia is EE, so an Estonian business’s VAT number may look like EE93810511 The letters at the start of a VAT number may change based on the language you’re using. For example, the French VAT code is FR in English, but TVA in French. Use the right VAT code based on the government document that is requesting the information. [2] X Research source VAT is a type of tax that is charged incrementally by manufacturers based on the product’s value. The government uses VAT numbers to calculate charges and taxes across borders, as well as to determine prices for goods and services in the country where they’re being sold. [3] X Research source
Most VAT number search engines are for companies based in the European Union (EU), but they may also show results for a few non-EU countries. If the company you’re inquiring about isn’t in the EU or UK, search the country’s name and the term “VAT registry. ” You usually have to enter the official name listed on the business’s registration. So if you search for “Microsoft” when you’re looking for “Microsoft Indonesia,” you may not see any results. A company’s official name may be slightly different from its main product. For example, Pepsi is actually the name of a product while PepsiCo, Inc is the company name. Sometimes the search engines retrieve an outdated or incorrect VAT number. Always cross-reference the VAT number to guarantee its authenticity.
You may need to file an official request document to solicit a company’s VAT number if it’s not public information. Some companies have multiple headquarters for different countries. For example, Apple is located in the United States, but Apple Ireland is located in Ireland. For tax purposes, they’re considered 2 different companies.
Use the VIES search engine to validate the VAT number for companies in the EU. For companies based in the United Kingdom, use the UK government site to see if the VAT number is valid and learn the name and address it’s registered to. Companies outside of the EU and UK may have their own validation sites. Try searching online for the name of the country plus “VAT number validation” to find their sites.
The HMRC helpline is only available during the week from 8 am to 6 pm BST.
A total of 170 countries and territories use VAT. [9] X Research source The U. S. doesn’t use VAT since companies charge sales tax at a state level. VAT isn’t charged for financial services, education, property, or charity events.
