VAT numbers by country / Greece
Greek VAT number
Format, example and a free check against the official register.
Format
| Local name | ΑΦΜ (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου) |
|---|---|
| Prefix | EL |
| Format | EL followed by 9 digits (Greece uses EL, not its country code GR) |
| Format example | EL123456789 |
| 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 returns Greek company names in Greek script.
How to check a Greek VAT number
- Enter it with or without the EL 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, Greece'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 Greece
Standard rate 24%; reduced rates 4%, 6%, 13%. All European VAT rates
Other countries
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