VAT registration number

United Kingdom VAT number format

United Kingdom VAT numbers (VRN) are written as GB + 9 digits (12 for branches; GD/HA + 3 digits for government and health bodies), for example GB980780684.

Country code: GB
Format: GB + 9 digits (12 for branches; GD/HA + 3 digits for government and health bodies)
Example: GB980780684
Local name: VAT registration number
Standard VAT rate: 20%

Regular expression

^GB(\d{9}|\d{12}|GD\d{3}|HA\d{3})$

Checks the format only. The register confirms the rest.

Check a United Kingdom VAT number

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

How United Kingdom VAT numbers are built

GB followed by 9 digits; 12 digits for businesses with branch codes; GD plus 3 digits for government departments and HA plus 3 digits for health authorities.

Check digit

UK numbers carry check digits, but vatcheckapi checks the format only; the live registration check confirms the number.

Common mistakes

UK numbers are not in VIES since 2021; vatcheckapi checks them through a commercial VAT data service.
Northern Ireland businesses that trade goods with the EU also use the same number with the XI prefix.

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 HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The validator checks it live through a commercial VAT data service, which also returns the registered name and address.

Check a United Kingdom number with the validator above, in the VAT number checker or on the UK VAT checker page, or up to 50 at once with the bulk VAT validator.

Check United Kingdom VAT numbers by API

curl "https://api.vatcheckapi.com/v2/check?vat_number=GB980780684" -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 United Kingdom provides them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a United Kingdom VAT number look like?

GB followed by 9 digits; 12 digits for businesses with branch codes; GD plus 3 digits for government departments and HA plus 3 digits for health authorities. The local name is VAT registration number (VRN), for example GB980780684.

How do I check a United Kingdom VAT number?

Enter it in the validator on this page. It checks the format and asks a commercial VAT data service whether the number is registered, with company name and address where available. The vatcheckapi API does the same from your code.

Do United Kingdom VAT numbers have a check digit?

UK numbers carry check digits, but vatcheckapi checks the format only; the live registration check confirms the number.

What is the most common mistake with United Kingdom VAT numbers?

UK numbers are not in VIES since 2021; vatcheckapi checks them through a commercial VAT data service.

What is the VAT rate in United Kingdom?

The standard rate is 20%. See VAT rates in United Kingdom 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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