VAT numbers by country / Netherlands
Dutch VAT number
Format, example and a free check against the official register.
Format
| Local name | btw-identificatienummer |
|---|---|
| Prefix | NL |
| Format | NL followed by 9 digits, the letter B and 2 digits |
| Format example | NL123456789B01 |
| 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
- Since 2020, sole traders have a separate btw-identificatienummer for invoices, different from the omzetbelastingnummer they use with the tax authority.
How to check a Dutch VAT number
- Enter it with or without the NL 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, the Netherlands'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 the Netherlands
Standard rate 21%; reduced rates 9%. All European VAT rates
Other countries
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