Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer

Germany VAT number format

Q: What does a Germany VAT number look like?

DE + 9 digits, for example DE136695976. The local name is Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer (USt-IdNr.).

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. Most countries also use a check digit; the validator checks both.

Check a Germany VAT number

Include the country prefix. Checked against VIES (EU) and HMRC (UK) in real time.

How to validate a Germany VAT number

Format: remove spaces, dots and dashes and compare with ^DE\d{9}$.
Check digit: Germany numbers contain a checksum that catches typos. The validator above checks it.
Registration: only the EU's VIES system can confirm that the number is currently registered for VAT. VIES forwards the question to the Germany tax authority.

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 + 9 digits, for example DE136695976. The local name is Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer (USt-IdNr.).

How do I check a Germany VAT number?

Enter it in the validator on this page. It checks the format and checksum and asks the EU's VIES system whether the number is registered, with company name and address where available. The vatcheckapi API does the same from your code.

Is the Germany VAT number the same as the tax number?

Not always. In many countries the VAT number is the company's tax or registration number with the country prefix, in others it is a separate number. Only VAT-registered businesses have one, and only those numbers can be validated 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 with VIES and HMRC, 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=DE136695976

{
  "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",
    "checked_at": "2023-01-11T12:30:28.000000Z"
  }
}

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