How do you check VAT IDs (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer) in Germany?

What is its German name and format?

In Germany, the VAT number is referred to as the “Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer” (short: USt.-ID).

The format of the German VAT ID is DE123456789 and divided into the country code (DE) and a nine-digit number. For example DE129274202 is the VAT ID for Siemens.

How to verify a German VAT ID manually?

You can use the VIES system.

Remember that a VAT ID number can be formally correct but not been activated for intra-EU transactions, in this case the VIES will return that the VAT ID is not valid.

The German VAT database doesn't provide a company name or address.

Check automatically with API and bulk verification

With Askfino you can verify VAT IDs in real-time using our API.

A response for VAT ID DE129274202 would look like this:

{
  "id": "0184ddae255e2f1774cc7ba08fc5b1e1",
  "vat_id": "DE129274202",
  "external_id": "",
  "country": "DE",
  "status": "VERIFIED",
  "company_address": "",
  "company_name": "",
  "verification_number": "WAPIAAAAYTdribNQ",
  "verified": true,
  "valid_format": true,
  "verified_at": "2022-12-04T15:08:08.918509Z",
  "created_at": "2022-12-04T15:08:08.414633Z"
}

If you have many VAT IDs to verify you can use the bulk verification. Upload a list or a CSV file and start the validation process directly inside our dashboard.

Once finished, you’ll be notified via email with a report containing the result of the VAT ID checks.

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