Vat number structure
Learn how VAT numbers are structured across EU countries and the UK. Understand country codes, number formats, and how to verify them for cross-border transactions.
Below is the structure of VAT numbers by EU member state, Northern Ireland & The United Kingdom:
| Country | Structure | Format* |
|---|---|---|
| AT-Austria | ATU999999991 | 1 sequence of 9 characters |
| BE-Belgium | BE0999999999 BE1999999999 |
1 sequence of 10 digits |
| BG-Bulgaria | BG999999999 BG9999999999 |
1 sequence of 9 or 10 digits |
| CY-Cyprus | CY99999999L | 1 sequence of 9 characters |
| CZ-Czech Republic | CZ99999999 CZ999999999 CZ9999999999 |
1 sequence of 8, 9 or 10 digits |
| DE-Germany | DE999999999 | 1 sequence of 9 digits |
| DK-Denmark | DK99 99 99 99 | 4 sequences of 2 digits |
| EE-Estonia | EE999999999 | 1 sequence of 9 digits |
| EL-Greece | EL999999999 | 1 sequence of 9 digits |
| ES-Spain | ESX9999999X4 | 1 sequence of 9 characters |
| FI-Finland | FI99999999 | 1 sequence of 8 digits |
| FR-France | FRXX 999999999 | 1 sequence of 2 characters and 1 sequence of 9 digits |
| GB-United Kingdom | GB123456789 | 1 sequence of 2 characters and 1 sequence of 9 digits |
| HR-Croatia | HR99999999999 | 1 sequence of 11 digits |
| HU-Hungary | HU99999999 | 1 sequence of 8 digits |
| IE-Ireland | IE9S99999L IE9999999LL |
1 sequence of 8 characters or 1 sequence of 9 characters |
| IT-Italy | IT99999999999 | 1 sequence of 11 digits |
| LT-Lithuania | LT999999999 LT999999999999 |
1 sequence of 9 digits or 1 sequence of 12 digits |
| LU-Luxembourg | LU99999999 | 1 sequence of 8 digits |
| LV-Latvia | LV99999999999 | 1 sequence of 11 digits |
| MT-Malta | MT99999999 | 1 sequence of 8 digits |
| NL-Netherlands | NLSSSSSSSSSSSS | 1 sequence of 12 characters |
| PL-Poland | PL9999999999 | 1 sequence of 10 digits |
| PT-Portugal | PT999999999 | 1 sequence of 9 digits |
| RO-Romania | RO999999999 | 1 sequence of minimum 2 and maximum 10 digits |
| SE-Sweden | SE999999999999 | 1 sequence of 12 digits |
| SI-Slovenia | SI99999999 | 1 sequence of 8 digits |
| SK-Slovakia | SK9999999999 | 1 sequence of 10 digits |
| XI-Northern Ireland | XI999 9999 99 XI999 9999 99 9995 XIGD9996 XIHA9997 |
1 block of 3 digits, 1 block of 4 digits and 1 block of 2 digits; or the above followed by a block of 3 digits; or 1 block of 5 characters |
Notes:
- *: excluding the two letters of the country code
- 9: digit
- X: letter or digit
- S: letter, digit, “+” or “*”
- L: letter
Annotations:
- The first character after the country code is always a “U”.
- The first digit after the country code is always a “0”.
- The (new) 10-digit number is the old 9-digit number preceded by a “0”.
- The first and last characters can be either a letter or a digit, but never both digits.
- Identifies parts of a business.
- Identifies government departments.
- Identifies health authorities.
- All letters are case-sensitive. Follow the exact structure of the VAT number as shown.