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How To Check A UK Vat Number?
If your business is registered in the European Union (EU), you can check the validity of your VAT registration number via the EU VAT Registration website or the UK VAT Register website. If you want to verify that your customer has a VAT identification number that he has in his registered office, please use the VAT registrar's website or check it at your local tax office. You can also search the company's register online or in person for a valid number if you have registered it.
Alternatively, you can use the online validation service for VAT identification numbers of the VAT Information Exchange System (VIES). In addition to calling HMRC's VAT hotline, UK businesses can also use it, which is provided by VAT services such as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Tax Office.
Once your company is opened on the VIES website, you can select your name, address, company name and VAT (VAT) number. You should then be able to confirm that the VAT identification number is valid and is linked to a specific name or address. The website will then let you know if the tax office, Office for National Statistics (ONS) or HMRC's VAT hotline are registered with the company.
If your business is claiming a high amount of VAT, it is good practice to check your supplier's VAT number. Double check that your VAT identification number is valid and correct when you sell to a customer who gives you his VAT identification number, provided you include it in the invoice and give it to the supplier. If you are reclaiming large amounts of GST or VAT from a supplier, such as a retailer or manufacturer of a certain type of goods or services, you should also check whether their VAT number is valid. It is also good practice to check the validity of your suppliers "VAT numbers, especially if you need to reclaim them, as this can cause problems for the company.
If you have any doubts about your registration number, you can confirm your VAT identification number by calling HMRC's VAT helpline number. There are a few ways to check if your VAT identification number is valid. Start by trying to find your own VAT identification number by logging into your hmrc business account and checking your VAT registration certificate. If you have any doubts about registering your number, call the VAT hotlines for all VAT registered companies from Monday to Friday at 18: 00 and call their number (03002003700) until 08: 00 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. In addition, if there is any doubt as to the validity of any of the numbers on your company's VAT certificate, HM Revenue and Customs has a full database of all VAT companies registered in the UK.
If necessary, you can use this evidence to tell HMRC that you have registered the relevant VAT identification number at the time of your search. You can also print and save the search results, so if you need to print or save them to check your VAT identification numbers and prove to HMRC that they were valid at the time of the search.
If your supplier's VAT ID is invalid, contact him to obtain the correct VAT ID number as soon as possible, or contact the supplier on his website to show him that his VAT ID number is invalid. In any case, it is your responsibility to check the VAT number of your customer on the invoice that has been issued to you. If the taxable person proves that their VAT registration is invalid and you have the Authorised VAT Number, you should contact your supplier to check whether the VAT number provided by the customer or supplier is correct or incorrect.
You can check the VAT number provided by your supplier immediately by going online and using the EU VAT identification database or by calling HMRC on 0300 200 3700. For more information on how to obtain an EU VAT number, see our guide on how to obtain an EU VAT identification number, but not sure how or if your company is not based in Europe. Our UK VAT - number check tool will help businesses identify the GST number of a UK company and identify the VAT numbers of businesses outside the UK.
For companies from the EU - to the UK, use the validation tool of the European Commission to verify that your VAT identification number is valid and correctly formatted. To check a VAT identification number on our website, you simply select your country's registration number on the website itself. We will provide you with a list of all VAT identification numbers valid for that country, as well as information on whether or not they are VAT identification numbers. In some countries, you will not be able to access the business relationship that your business can associate with your GST number, or even the GST numbers of the companies you are associated with, depending on your local privacy policy.
References
[1] EU VAT validation serivce https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/
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