EU VAT Numbers 101

Everything you need to know about VAT numbers in the EU.
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What is an EU VAT number?

An EU VAT Number is an identifying number issued to those registered for Value Added Tax in an EU country. A VAT number shows you’re registered for VAT in a specific country, so there’s no EU-wide VAT number.

While a single EU VAT number doesn’t exist, One Stop Shop (OSS) and Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) act a little like one. Through these EU-wide schemes, you can report all your eligible intra-EU or imported EU sales via a single electronic return.

EU VAT for Ecommerce Sellers

Tribexa is a VAT compliance platform that empowers you to handle all of your VAT needs in just a few clicks. Built with our years of VAT and ecommerce expertise, tribexa is designed to make VAT compliance a walk in the park for online sellers.

What is VAT?

VAT stands for Value Added Tax. It’s an indirect consumption tax that’s applied at every stage of a product’s lifecycle. VAT is set at a percentage and is included in the price the customer pays when buying goods or services. For example, the standard rate of VAT in the UK is 20%. If you buy a jacket for GBP 120 in the UK, you’re paying GBP 20 in VAT.
The UK and all 27 Member States apply VAT and have their own names for consumption tax. For example, in France it is TVA and in Spain it is IVA. Depending on your circumstances you may need to register locally in each country.

How do I check an EU VAT number?

To check your VAT number or the VAT number of another business, you can use the VAT Information Exchange System (VIES) VIES was developed by the European Commission to confirm the validity of VAT numbers across the EU and Northern Ireland. You can check GB VAT numbers on HMRC’s database.

Why do I need to validate a VAT number?

Checking VAT numbers are real and correct is good practice for VAT compliance. It can help you avoid being the victim of fraud or paying VAT you didn’t have to.
You might want to check a VAT number to:
  • Apply the reverse charge mechanism, so you can zero-rate a sale
  • Make sure your invoices are compliant
  • Ensure you’re only including valid sales on your EC Sales lists
  • Prevent you becoming a victum of carousel or missing trader fraud
  • Access certain refund or exemption schemes

Do I need an EU VAT number?

There are a variety of situations which may trigger a VAT obligation. Generally, non-EU businesses will need to register when trading with the EU. A common reason to VAT register is if you a holding stock within an EU country. For example, if you’re a Amazon FBA seller, you’ll need to register in each country where you are storing goods.

Find out if you need to register for VAT in the EU in less than a minute with our quiz.

How do I get an EU VAT number?

To get a VAT number in the EU, you have to register with a Member State’s tax authority. You’ll need a variety of documents, including evidence that you’re going to be trading in that country. Some countries will also require you to appoint a fiscal representative. Application timescales can vary by country, so you should factor this in when planning to sell into the EU.
Getting a VAT number in another country can be complicated, but we’re here to help. We’ll get you set-up wherever you need to be registered and handle your monthly returns.

Do I need an EU VAT Number post-Brexit?

Since the UK left the EU, UK businesses have had to: 
Pay VAT when they import goods into an EU Member State
Charge their EU customers their local VAT rate

For some businesses that means registering for VAT in an EU country or registering for IOSS. Businesses in Great Britain will also need an EU EORI number to import goods into the EU. If you’re based in Northern Ireland , an XI EORI number will work in the EU.

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Customer Reviews

Monika Milcarz, GB
We are using the SimplyVAT service for our EU VAT returns
We are using the Simply Vat service for ages. They never let us down. Very reliable and responsible company with great customer managers. Highly recommended.
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We are using the SimplyVAT service for ages. They never let us down. Very reliable and responsible company with great customer managers. Highly recommended.


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A very professional firm
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Making life simpler
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Brilliant support!
I love being creative and sharing my work with the world, but taxes does my head in, and EU VAT even more so! However, with the help from everyone at SimplyVAT -
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I love being creative and sharing my work with the world, but taxes does my head in, and EU VAT even more so! However, with the help from everyone at SimplyVAT - from the initial client call, to signing up, to registering with the EU for VAT - I've had excellent support.

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SimplyVAT provided exceptional service from day one. Their team took the time to understand our business needs and offered tailored advice
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SimplyVAT provided exceptional service from day one. Their team took the time to understand our business needs and offered tailored advice that streamlined our VAT processes. Communication was always prompt, and their support made a complex task feel straightforward.


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As a small business looking to expand internationally, we were overwhelmed by VAT regulations. SimplyVAT’s team guided us through every step
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As a small business looking to expand internationally, we were overwhelmed by VAT regulations. SimplyVAT’s team guided us through every step with confidence and professionalism. Their expertise gave us the assurance to enter new markets without worrying about compliance issues.


James
“SimplyVAT’s responsive team kept our VAT filings on schedule.”
Working with SimplyVAT has been a game-changer for our business. Their team is incredibly responsive, ensuring all our VAT filings are submitted on time without any hassle.
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Working with SimplyVAT has been a game-changer for our business. Their team is incredibly responsive, ensuring all our VAT filings are submitted on time without any hassle. They’ve taken a huge weight off our shoulders, allowing us to focus on growth.


Sarah
“Their clear guidance turned VAT complexity into a manageable task.”
I was dreading dealing with VAT for our growing e-commerce business, but SimplyVAT made it so much easier. T
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I was dreading dealing with VAT for our growing e-commerce business, but SimplyVAT made it so much easier. Their team provided clear, step-by-step guidance and was always available to clarify doubts. It’s rare to find a service that combines expertise with such approachable support.


Mark
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SimplyVAT has been a fantastic partner for our business. Their team is always proactive, answering questions before we even ask them, and their expertise
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SimplyVAT has been a fantastic partner for our business. Their team is always proactive, answering questions before we even ask them, and their expertise has saved us countless hours on VAT compliance. Highly recommend their services to any business looking to simplify their tax processes.


SimplyVAT customer
“SimplyVAT’s platform made VAT compliance simple and stress-free.”
Really smooth process from start to finish. I represent a Kiwi company entering the EU market and looked around at options for helping sort VAT.
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Really smooth process from start to finish. I represent a Kiwi company entering the EU market and looked around at options for helping sort VAT. SimplyVAT were excellent right from the start - making what would have been a very complicated process simple and clear. Clear communication and a nice backend portal made the process run smoothly.


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Flawless service, by SimplyVAT have had excellent service first by Liza and then Sonja. Both have been amazing


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David
“Vittoria’s exceptional care ensures our VAT filings are always on track.”
We have been working with Simply VAT for years now. We always get a great service from them and Vittoria always looks after our account really well.
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We have been working with Simply VAT for years now. We always get a great service from them and Vittoria always looks after our account really well.


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Our account manager, Vittoria, provides a consistently high level of communication and service, which. She is very quick at replying and is very thorough in her responses as well.
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