Free tool

VAT number format checker

Paste a VAT number and we'll check it against the official format for its country — UK and all 27 EU states. Runs entirely in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.

What this checks — and what it can't

This tool validates the structure of a VAT number: country prefix, length, and character pattern (for UK numbers, including the 97-55 checksum). A valid format doesnot prove the number is registered to a real business — for that you need the official registers: HMRC's checker for UK numbers and VIES for EU numbers.

If you're approving wholesale buyers on Shopify, Transactful runs the full registry check (HMRC and VIES) automatically during thewholesale application — with the evidence stored on the approval record.