There are a number of ways of finding and checking a company’s Value Added Tax (VAT) number by name in the UK, including checking the company’s website and using the online HMRC checker. This applies whether you need to find a VAT a company company in the UK, Europe, or another part of the world where VAT is used. For your own business, knowing your VAT number is important when invoicing clients, preparing VAT returns, and making VAT payments. If you are unable to find a VAT number, don’t worry; there are several methods that can be employed to ensure you the correct information. In this article, we will explain all you need to know about finding a company’s VAT number by name in the UK.
What is a VAT number?
VAT numbers are used by revenue collection authorities to ensure that businesses pay and collect the correct amount of VAT tax. A Value Added Tax (VAT) number is a unique identifier issued by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the UK to businesses that have registered for VAT. VAT numbers are issued by the respective tax authority in each country. VAT numbers are not just issued in the UK; they are used in 170 countries, including across the European Union. The United States does not use the VAT system; rather, it has a ‘sales tax’ that varies from state to state.
Do I need to register for VAT?
In the UK, a business must register for VAT when it reaches the VAT-taxable annual turnover of £90,000. You will need to register for VAT with HMRC within 30 days of your turnover reaching the VAT threshold or if you expect to reach this amount in the next 30 days. Businesses with a small taxable turnover can still register for VAT but on a voluntary basis.
In addition to being a mandatory requirement for businesses earning the threshold, having a business with a VAT number helps to establish credibility and trust in the eyes of clients and other businesses. Once you have successfully registered for VAT, you can add your VAT number to your sales invoices. You can also reclaim any VAT that you have paid to your business suppliers.
What does a VAT number look like?
The format for VAT numbers varies by country. If you are based in England, Scotland, or Wales, your business’s VAT number is made up of the letters’ GB’ immediately followed by nine numbers, e.g. ‘GB123456789’.
If your business is located in Northern Ireland and you sell products and services into the European Union, your VAT number will start with the letter ‘XI’ and will be followed by nine numbers, e.g. ‘XI123456789’.
The letters ‘VAT’ are not always used in each country; most countries have their own variant. Here is a sample of some of the VAT number formats and local language variations of ‘VAT’ provided by the HMRC:
| Country (including code) | VAT number format | VAT in local languages |
|---|---|---|
|
Austria (AT) |
U12345678 |
USt |
|
Belgium (BE) |
1234567890 |
BTW, TVA, NWSt |
|
Bulgaria (BG) |
123456789, 1234567890 |
ДДС |
|
Croatia (HR) |
12345678901 |
PDV |
|
Republic of Cyprus (CY) |
12345678X |
ΦΠΑ |
|
Czech Republic (CZ) |
12345678, 123456789, 1234567890 |
DPH |
When might I need a VAT number?
VAT numbers may be required for many reasons, including when:
- When issuing invoices to clients – By law, if you are registered for VAT, your VAT number must be included on the invoice.
- Preparing a VAT return for HMRC on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis
- Claim VAT on business purchases
- Checking whether another business is VAT-registered
- Buying goods or services from VAT-registered suppliers
- Selling goods or services to another VAT-registered business in the EU
- Applying the Reverse Charge Mechanism, or
- Applying for a VAT refunds
Thankfully, if you need a VAT number, either for your own business or another business in the UK or overseas, there are several ways to find them, including:
- Checking the invoice from the business
- Checking your HMRC paperwork or speak to your accountant
- Checking the website of the business
- Contacting the company directly
Method 1: Check the invoice from the business
If you have received an invoice from a business that is registered for VAT, it must, by law, include the VAT number. As such, this is the first place to check before you use other methods to find the VAT number. If they have not provided a VAT number on the invoice, we recommend contacting them directly to provide it.
Method 2: Check your HMRC paperwork or speak to your accountant
If you are looking for your own VAT number, the first place to look is for your VAT registration certificate. It should also be included in any correspondence from HMRC regarding your VAT and any previous VAT returns you sent HMRC.
Failing that, ask your accountant. Your accountant should have a record of your VAT number that they use to prepare your VAT returns each month, quarter, or year.
Other methods for finding a VAT number
Check the website of the company
Another way to find the VAT number of a business is to look on its website. VAT numbers are often provided on the header or footer of pages or the contact webpage.
Contact the company directly
If all else fails, you could simply contact the business in question by phone or email to ask for their VAT number.
Checking if a VAT number is valid
Having a VAT number is one thing, but it is also important to check that it is correct and valid. Using an incorrect VAT number can cause confusion when it comes to invoicing, reclaiming VAT, paying VAT, and submitting VAT returns. Checking a VAT number can also avoid the potential for financial fraud and ensure compliance with the UK’s tax laws.
In the UK, you can check if a VAT number is valid by using the HMRC’s UK VAT number checker. This can be used at no cost to check that a VAT number is correct and also to check the name and address of the business to which the VAT number is registered. Other methods include using the VIES website to verify a European VAT number and contacting HMRC’s VAT helpline directly.
Using the HMRC’s UK VAT number checker?
You can use HMRC’s UK VAT number checker by typing the VAT number in question. The system will then check the VAT number entered against its records. Based on the information provided, you can then determine if you have the correct VAT number or if you will need to carry out further checks to ensure you have the right one.
When using the HMRC VAT number checker, you can also select an option to be provided proof that you have carried out a check; this only applies to UK-registered businesses.
Using the VIES website to verify a European VAT number
If you need to check a European VAT number (i.e. not one issued in the UK), you can use the VIES website. VIES (VAT Information Exchange System) is a service offered by the European Commission that enables users to check the VAT numbers of businesses that are registered for VAT in one of 27 EU Member States and Northern Ireland.
VIES is typically used to check if a particular business is fully registered to trade cross-border within the EU. To use VIES, you will need to access the VIES VAT validation service online and then enter the following information:
- The member state (including Northern Ireland)
- The VAT number you wish to check
- Your member state (i.e. as the requestor)
- Your VAT number
Once this information has been entered, click ‘verify’. The system will then check the VAT-registered businesses in each member state. If it exists within the system, a valid response will be given. If the VAT number entered is not valid, this may be for one of the following reasons:
- the VAT number does not exist
- the VAT number has not been activated for intra-EU transactions, or
- the VAT registration has not yet been completed (some EU countries require a separate registration for intra-EU transactions).
Contacting HMRC to check if a VAT number is valid
Sometimes, the old methods work best. If you are still struggling to check the validity of a VAT number you have been given, you can contact HMRC’s helpline for assistance. The phone number of the HMRC VAT helpline in the UK is 0300 200 3700. To use this service, you will need to provide your business VAT number.
Final words
We hope you have found this guide to finding and checking a company’s VAT number by name helpful. As we have discussed, it is important to verify that you have the correct VAT number to ensure that you comply with the tax law in the UK, that your paperwork is correct, and that you can claim VAT.