VAT numbers by country / Germany
German VAT number
Format, example and a free check against the official register.
Format
| Local name | USt-IdNr. (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer) |
|---|---|
| Prefix | DE |
| Format | DE followed by 9 digits |
| Format example | DE123456789 |
| 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.
Good to know
- VIES confirms whether the number is valid but doesn’t return the company’s name or address for this country, so compare the name on the invoice with what you know about the company.
- The USt-IdNr. is not the same as the Steuernummer (the local tax number on German invoices); only the USt-IdNr. can be checked in VIES.
How to check a German VAT number
- Enter it with or without the DE 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, Germany'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 Germany
Standard rate 19%; reduced rates 7%. All European VAT rates
Other countries
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