How do you check VAT IDs in Italy?

Alexandre Savio

What is the VAT number?

The acronym VAT comes from the English expression Value Added Tax. Those who are familiar with the English language will have already understood that in Italy it is known as Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto, or IVA.

However, VAT should not be confused with the VAT number, sometimes also called VAT identification number: this, in fact, represents an electronic instrument, or for better to say a protocol, which identifies VAT numbers and self-employed businesses operating in the European Union for VAT purposes.

This identifier, therefore, is required for all commercial operators and individuals who need to carry out intra-community transactions. Each country transmits the VAT numbers and data of the other companies register.

In the case of Italy, this activity is carried out by the Agenzia delle Entrate. In this way, the data of all the companies operating in the VIES are available Europe for verification.

The format of the Italian VAT ID is IT12345678901 and divided into the country code (IT) and an eleven-digit number. For example IT00281310060 is the VAT ID for Ferrari s.P.A.

How to verify an Italian VAT ID manually?

You can use the VIES system.

VIES verification italy

VIES verification italy result

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.

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 IT00281310060 would look like this:

{
  "id": "0184ddae255e2f1774cc7ba08fc5b1e1",
  "vat_id": "IT00281310060",
  "external_id": "",
  "country": "IT",
  "status": "VERIFIED",
  "company_address": "VIA SAN GIOVANNI BOSCO 10 15121 ALESSANDRIA AL",
  "company_name": "FERRARI SPA",
  "verification_number": "WAPIAAAAYTdribNQ",
  "verified": true,
  "valid_format": true,
  "verified_at": "2023-01-05T15:08:08.918509Z",
  "created_at": "2023-01-05T15:08:08.414633Z"
}

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.

Askfino Bulk import

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

Ready? Start a free trial today.