How to check VAT registration number

A VAT registration number is the tax ID assigned to businesses registered for Value Added Tax. It appears on invoices, contracts, and customs paperwork across the UK and EU. Before you pay a supplier, issue a zero-rated B2B invoice, or onboard a new trading partner, you should know how to check a VAT registration number against the official registry — free, online, and in seconds.

Where to find a VAT registration number

Look on the tax invoice, quotation, or contract from your supplier or customer. UK numbers start with GB followed by nine digits — for example GB116300129. EU numbers begin with a two-letter country code: DE for Germany, FR for France, IE for Ireland, and so on. If the number is missing, hard to read, or formatted unusually, treat that as a warning and run a VAT registration number lookup before you proceed.

UK or EU — which registry to use?

The country prefix tells you which authority holds the record. GB numbers are checked through HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) since Brexit. All 27 EU member states use the European Commission's VIES system. If you trade across both markets, you need both workflows. Read UK VAT numbers for GB format and HMRC rules, and EU VAT numbers explained for European prefixes and intracommunity B2B requirements.

How to check a VAT registration number online

Checking a VAT registration number online takes three simple steps. First, copy the full number including its country prefix and remove any spaces or hyphens. Second, enter it into a trusted tool that queries the official registry live — HMRC for GB, VIES for EU member states. Third, review the result: valid or invalid, plus the registered business name and address where the authority provides them.

Use our free VAT checker on Check VAT Number for instant official results covering both UK and EU numbers. For a deeper walkthrough, see how VAT validation works. UK-specific guides include check VAT number in UK and how to verify a UK VAT number online.

What a VAT registration check returns

A successful verify VAT registration number lookup confirms whether the registration is currently active. When valid, you receive the company name and address the tax authority holds on file — compare those details to your trading partner before releasing funds. An invalid result means the number may be cancelled, mistyped, or registered to a different entity. Learn why this matters in our guide on why you should verify VAT numbers before every B2B transaction.

When to run a VAT registration check

Build a validate VAT registration number step into supplier onboarding, accounts payable, and high-value invoice approval. Run a check VAT reg number lookup before the first payment to any new B2B partner — not after a dispute arises. For EU suppliers specifically, see best free website for checking EU VAT IDs. Free UK options are covered in is there a free service to validate a VAT number for UK businesses? Country tips are in our FAQ.

Check a VAT registration number free now

Whether you need a one-off VAT registration number verification or a regular compliance workflow, the process takes seconds and costs nothing. Visit the Check VAT Number homepage, enter the full registration number with its country prefix, and get instant results — or browse more guides on our blog.