EU VAT Numbers 101

Everything you need to know about VAT numbers in the EU.

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.

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.

Explore Tribexa

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.

Take the 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.

Get an EU VAT Number

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.

EU VAT in-depth guide for Ecommerce Sellers

If you want a more detailed overview of how EU VAT works in practice, you can download our EU VAT guide.

Download the Guide

Vat services trusted by thousand of ecommerce brands

4.8

We love VAT, so you don’t have to!

Banner than reads ' Most trusted name in international VAT' and 'Trustpilot score 4.8'

We love VAT, so you don’t have to!

Customer Reviews

Vincent, Switzerland

A very professional firm

A very professional firm that has taken the pain away from our monthly EU VAT filings. I can only vouch for their high level of service

A very professional firm that has taken the pain away from our monthly EU VAT filings. I can only vouch for their high level of service and quick response time to our various questions. What a difference from our previous provider (VatGlobal). Do not hesitate to use them.

James Hole, Portugal

Making life simpler

The world of EU VAT registration is fraught with complexity and unseen hurdles. SimplyVAT navigated all of this for us

The world of EU VAT registration is fraught with complexity and unseen hurdles. SimplyVAT navigated all of this for us efficiently and effectively, indluding extracting refunds!
Communication was excellent!

David, GB

"Simply VAT helped us do business"

Simply VAT helped us negotiate the EU VAT regulations and thus enabled us to transact business.Farha, our account manager, has been very good-

Simply VAT helped us negotiate the EU VAT regulations and thus enabled us to transact business.
Farha, our account manager, has been very good - quick to respond with the answers and the advice we needed.

Michael

“Their tailored advice streamlined our VAT processes significantly.”

SimplyVAT provided exceptional service from day one. Their team took the time to understand our business needs and offered tailored advice

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.

Emma

“SimplyVAT’s expertise helped us expand confidently into new markets.”

As a small business looking to expand internationally, we were overwhelmed by VAT regulations. SimplyVAT’s team guided us through every step

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.