VAT numbers by country / France
French VAT number
Format, example and a free check against the official register.
Format
| Local name | numéro de TVA intracommunautaire |
|---|---|
| Prefix | FR |
| Format | FR followed by a 2-character key (digits or letters) and the 9-digit SIREN number |
| Format example | FR12345678901, FRAB123456789 |
| Checked in | VIES (the EU’s VAT Information Exchange System) |
Examples show the format only; they aren't real registrations. Spaces, dots and dashes are ignored when checking.
How to check a French VAT number
- Enter it with or without the FR prefix; spaces and punctuation don't matter.
- The check asks the official register in real time whether the number is currently valid, and returns the registered name and address where the country publishes them.
- Compare the name with the company you're dealing with: a valid number that belongs to a different company is a common invoice-fraud trick.
- If the check can't get an answer, France's database may be down: see the live VIES status.
Signed in, every check is saved with a PDF certificate you can show your auditor. To check many numbers at once, upload a spreadsheet, or use the VAT validation API.
VAT rates in France
Standard rate 20%; reduced rates 2.1%, 5.5%, 10%. All European VAT rates
Other countries
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