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
Register: HMRC (UK)
Standard VAT rate: 20%

Regular expression

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

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

Check a United Kingdom VAT number

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

How to validate a United Kingdom VAT number

Format: remove spaces, dots and dashes and compare with ^GB(\d{9}|\d{12}|GD\d{3}|HA\d{3})$.
Check digit: United Kingdom numbers contain a checksum that catches typos. The validator above checks it.
Registration: only HMRC can confirm that the number is currently registered for VAT.

Since Brexit, UK VAT numbers are no longer in VIES. They are checked with HMRC's VAT registration service. Northern Ireland businesses trading goods with the EU use the XI prefix.

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 + 9 digits (12 for branches; GD/HA + 3 digits for government and health bodies), for example GB980780684. The local name is VAT registration number (VRN).

How do I check a United Kingdom VAT number?

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

Is the United Kingdom 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 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 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=GB980780684

{
  "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"
  }
}

Free VAT tools

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