Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer

Germany VAT number format

Germany VAT numbers (USt-IdNr.) are written as DE + 9 digits, for example DE136695976.

Country code: DE
Format: DE + 9 digits
Example: DE136695976
Local name: Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer
Register: VIES (EU)
Standard VAT rate: 19%

Regular expression

^DE\d{9}$

Checks the format only. The validator below also checks the check digit.

Check a Germany VAT number

Include the country prefix. EU numbers are checked against VIES in real time, UK numbers with a separate live check.

How Germany VAT numbers are built

DE followed by 9 digits. The USt-IdNr. is issued by the BZSt and is not the Steuernummer, the tax number from the local tax office.

Check digit

The 9th digit is a check digit (ISO 7064 MOD 11,10). The validator checks it.

Common mistakes

A Steuernummer such as 12/345/67890 is not a VAT number and is not in VIES.
VIES confirms German numbers but returns no name or address for them.

Is the number registered?

A valid format and check digit only mean the number could exist. Whether it is currently registered for VAT is known to the Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern, BZSt), and VIES asks that register for you. VIES confirms Germany numbers but returns no name or address for them.

Check a Germany number with the validator above, in the VAT number checker or on the USt-ID prüfen (German) page, or up to 50 at once with the bulk VAT validator.

Check Germany VAT numbers by API

curl "https://api.vatcheckapi.com/v2/check?vat_number=DE136695976" -H "apikey: YOUR-API-KEY"

The response says whether the format and checksum are valid and whether the number is registered, with name and address where Germany provides them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a Germany VAT number look like?

DE followed by 9 digits. The USt-IdNr. is issued by the BZSt and is not the Steuernummer, the tax number from the local tax office. The local name is Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer (USt-IdNr.), for example DE136695976.

How do I check a Germany VAT number?

Enter it in the validator on this page. It checks the format and check digit and asks the EU's VIES system whether the number is registered, but Germany returns no company name or address through VIES. The vatcheckapi API does the same from your code.

Do Germany VAT numbers have a check digit?

The 9th digit is a check digit (ISO 7064 MOD 11,10). The validator checks it.

What is the most common mistake with Germany VAT numbers?

A Steuernummer such as 12/345/67890 is not a VAT number and is not in VIES.

What is the VAT rate in Germany?

The standard rate is 19%. See VAT rates in Germany for reduced rates and a calculator.

VAT validation API

Validate VAT numbers in your app

vatcheckapi checks the format and checksum of EU and UK VAT numbers and confirms the registration live (VIES for EU numbers), with company name and address where the country provides them.

/v2/check documentation VAT number API All documentation

150 free validations every month. No credit card required.

GET https://api.vatcheckapi.com/v2/check?vat_number=LU26375245

{
  "country_code": "LU",
  "vat_number": "26375245",
  "format_valid": true,
  "checksum_valid": true,
  "registration_info": {
    "is_registered": true,
    "name": "AMAZON EUROPE CORE S.A R.L.",
    "address": "38, AVENUE JOHN F. KENNEDY\nL-1855  LUXEMBOURG",
    "address_parts": null,
    "checked_at": "2026-10-16T09:12:44.000000Z"
  },
  "registration_info_history": []
}

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