VAT Number
Category: registration
A unique identifier issued by a tax authority for VAT-registered businesses.
A VAT number (also called VAT identification number or VATIN) is a unique identifier assigned to businesses registered for VAT in their country. In the EU, VAT numbers follow the format of a country prefix followed by a numeric or alphanumeric code (e.g., DE123456789 for Germany). VAT numbers are required for B2B invoicing, customs declarations, and selling on EU marketplaces.
Examples
- • Amazon requires sellers to provide a valid VAT number for each EU country where they hold inventory (e.g., DE VAT number for FBA Germany).
- • B2B invoices within the EU must show both the seller's and buyer's VAT numbers for the reverse charge mechanism to apply.
- • A VAT number can be validated on the European Commission's VIES system to confirm its validity before a B2B transaction.