# VAT checker

> Free VAT checker: check an EU VAT number against the European Commission's VIES register, or a UK VAT number's HMRC check digits. No sign-up, with a no-key API.

Canonical page: https://superbooks.io/tools/vat-checker/

## Use it without a browser

GET https://app.superbooks.io/api/tools/vat-check?number=DE811569869, or POST {"numbers": [...]} with up to ten numbers.

## Questions

### What does a VIES check tell me?

VIES is the European Commission's service that asks the national tax database of an EU country whether a VAT number is registered for trade between EU countries. A valid result is the evidence you keep when you invoice a business customer in another EU country without VAT under the reverse charge.

### Can it check UK VAT numbers?

GB numbers left VIES when the UK left the EU; only Northern Ireland's XI numbers are still in it. This tool tests a GB number's HMRC check digits, which catches most typos, and shows when a live HMRC lookup is not available.

### Why does a number come back as unavailable?

VIES relays each check to the country's own system, and those go offline for maintenance. Unavailable means the country did not answer, not that the number is invalid; try again later.

### Why is no company name shown?

Some countries, Germany among them, confirm whether a number is valid but do not disclose the name and address through VIES.