EU VAT guide
VIES VAT checker
VIES is the European Commission service used to check whether an EU VAT number is currently valid for intra-EU transactions.
What this checker does
It sends the VAT country code and number to the VIES service and returns the current response from the national VAT database.
A valid response can include the registered name and address when the member state makes that data available.
What VIES does not guarantee
VIES is not a central company database. It queries national VAT databases at the time of the check.
The European Commission says national databases may be temporarily unavailable and that data accuracy is controlled by member states.
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Related VIES guides
- EU VAT number validationValidate EU VAT IDs and learn when VAT checks matter for cross-border trade.
- VIES consultation numberLearn what a VIES consultation number is and when it can appear.
- VIES errors explainedUnderstand common VIES errors such as MS_UNAVAILABLE, TIMEOUT, and SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE.
- VIES service unavailableWhat to do when VIES or a national VAT registry is unavailable.
- Is VIES down?Check whether the VIES gateway appears reachable and learn what VIES downtime means.
- MS_UNAVAILABLE VIES errorUnderstand the MS_UNAVAILABLE VIES error and how to handle it.