European VAT number structure check

Accountants and administrative teams can examine a European number before use when they need to check its intracommunity VAT structure.

Inspect the structure of a European VAT number and identify a format that does not fit the expected intracommunity numbering pattern.

How to use

Enter the EU VAT number you want to check, keeping the country prefix and avoiding extra spaces.
Run the verification to inspect the number structure against the expected format for the stated country.
Read the result and see whether the length, characters and prefix appear to match.
If any doubt remains, compare the number with an official document or your tax administration before using it.

Example

An administrative assistant receives a VAT number from a European supplier and wants to check its shape before saving it. They enter the sample number, run the verification and look at whether the structure matches the expected format.

Input

FR12345678901

Limits and formats

The tool checks the structure of the number, but it does not confirm that the business is active or that the number is truly registered.
A well-formed number can still be false or outdated, so an official validation remains necessary for accounting use.
Format rules vary by country; an unusual prefix or length does not always mean an error.
Do not rely on this check alone to decide which VAT rate to apply or to issue an invoice.

Where processing happens

The verification runs entirely in your browser. The number you enter stays on your device and is not sent anywhere. No customer data is transmitted to an external service during the check.

Frequently asked questions

Does the validator confirm that the number really exists?

No. It checks the structure of the number, not whether it exists in a tax database. For an invoice or contract, use the official VAT verification service.

Why is my number rejected when it looks correct?

A space, a hyphen or a wrong prefix can be enough to make the check fail. Also verify the expected length for the country concerned.

Can I check a non-European VAT number?

The tool is intended for European intracommunity VAT numbers. A number from another country or tax system may not match the format being analysed.