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ERP ReferenceEU VAT rates

Guide

EU VAT number formats by country

The structure of VAT identification numbers in each country we cover, with the prefix VIES expects and verification status.

Published

Each country formats its VAT identification numbers differently. The table lists the structure our checker uses, the prefix, and whether we have confirmed the structure in an official source.

Our format check applies confirmed patterns only; for unconfirmed ones it says "format not verified" rather than guessing. VIES has the final say for EU numbers.

Try a number in the VAT number check.

Formats confirmed in an official source: 30 of 30.

CountryPrefixStructureStatus
AustriaATATU followed by 8 digitsverified 2026-10-11
BelgiumBEBE followed by 10 digits, the first being 0 or 1verified 2026-10-11
BulgariaBGBG followed by 9 or 10 digitsverified 2026-10-11
CroatiaHRHR followed by 11 digitsverified 2026-10-11
CyprusCYCY followed by 8 digits and 1 letterverified 2026-10-17
CzechiaCZCZ followed by 8, 9 or 10 digitsverified 2026-10-11
DenmarkDKDK followed by 8 digits (often written in 4 blocks of 2)verified 2026-10-11
EstoniaEEEE followed by 9 digitsverified 2026-10-11
FinlandFIFI followed by 8 digitsverified 2026-10-11
FranceFRFR followed by 2 characters (letters or digits) and 9 digitsverified 2026-10-11
GermanyDEDE followed by 9 digitsverified 2026-10-11
GreeceELEL (not GR) followed by 9 digitsverified 2026-10-11
HungaryHUHU followed by 8 digitsverified 2026-10-11
IrelandIEIE followed by either 8 characters (a digit; a letter, a digit, + or *; 5 digits; a letter) or, in Revenue's newer 9-character format, 7 digits and 2 lettersverified 2026-10-17
ItalyITIT followed by 11 digitsverified 2026-10-11
LatviaLVLV followed by 11 digitsverified 2026-10-11
LithuaniaLTLT followed by 9 or 12 digitsverified 2026-10-11
LuxembourgLULU followed by 8 digitsverified 2026-10-11
MaltaMTMT followed by 8 digitsverified 2026-10-11
NetherlandsNLNL followed by 9 digits, the letter B and 2 digitsverified 2026-10-11
NorwayNOThe 9-digit organisation number followed by the letters MVA; this checker uses NO as the country prefix, which the Norwegian sources do not mention, and adds it when Norway is selected. The tax administration also accepts MVA (VAT) on invoices: leave out (VAT) when checkingverified 2026-10-17
PolandPLPL followed by 10 digitsverified 2026-10-11
PortugalPTPT followed by 9 digitsverified 2026-10-11
RomaniaRORO followed by 2 to 10 digitsverified 2026-10-11
SlovakiaSKSK followed by 10 digitsverified 2026-10-11
SloveniaSISI followed by 8 digitsverified 2026-10-11
SpainESES followed by 9 characters: a letter or digit, 7 digits, a letter or digit; the first and last may not both be digitsverified 2026-10-11
SwedenSESE followed by 12 digitsverified 2026-10-11
SwitzerlandCHECHE followed by 9 digits and MWST, TVA or IVA (written CHE-123.456.789 MWST); VAT is not an allowed suffixverified 2026-10-11
United KingdomGBGB followed by 9 digits, or 12 digits (branch traders), or GD and 3 digits (government departments), or HA and 3 digits (health authorities)verified 2026-10-11

Why a well-formed number can still be invalid

A format check only tests the shape of a number. It cannot tell whether the number was issued, is still active, or is enabled for cross-border trade. Only the issuing country’s database, queried through VIES for EU numbers, can confirm that. For EU numbers, use the European Commission’s official VIES checker. See when VIES says a number is invalid.

Information only, not tax advice.