Checking VAT numbers
If you are going to sell goods or services to – or buy them from – a company in another EU country, you may need to check the seller’s or buyer’s VAT number. There are various ways to check a VAT number.
Check the format. A VAT number must include a country code (a two-character prefix) followed by the number of characters that applies to the country in question
You can check a VAT number on the European Commission’s website. Select the relevant EU country from the drop-down menu, and enter the VAT number that you wish to check. The validation tool will then confirm whether or not this VAT number is valid. Verification usually takes a few seconds.
VAT Information Exchange System (VIES) VAT number validation (European Commission) External link.
You can check the VAT number by calling our tax information service:
Important: checking VAT numbers
When checking VAT numbers online, only use the EU commission’s VAT Information Exchange System (VIES) validation tool. Other online tools are available, but – in order to avoid validation errors – the Swedish Tax Agency cannot approve a response provided by another e-service, confirming that your buyer was registered for VAT.