DE VAT format
Germany VAT number check
Check a Germany VAT number against VIES and confirm whether it is currently reported as valid for intra-EU transactions.
Expected format
A typical Germany VAT ID looks like DE123456789. You can paste the full number with the DE prefix or select Germany in the checker.
What VIES can return
- Valid: the VAT number is currently confirmed for intra-EU transactions.
- Invalid: VIES did not confirm the number as valid at the time of the check.
- Unavailable: VIES or the national VAT registry did not reply.
Before relying on the result
Match the VAT result with your customer's invoice details and keep your own evidence of the check. A valid VIES response is a useful record, but it is not a substitute for your compliance workflow or advice from a tax professional.
If Germany is unavailable in VIES, retry later before treating the VAT number as invalid. Member-state registry outages can look like a failed check even when the number itself is fine.