Look up a VAT number

    How to look up a VAT number in United Kingdom

    Free, official, source-cited — updated 2026-06.

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    Reviewed by LemReveal Research TeamLast verified June 2026Primary source: EU VIES

    How do I look up and validate a VAT number in United Kingdom?

    Validate a United Kingdom VAT number for free using the EU VIES service at https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/. VIES returns "valid" plus the legal name and address on file. Cross-check the same entity in Companies House for the underlying registration number.

    Step-by-step

    1. 1

      Open the EU VIES portal

      Go to https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/. VIES is the European Commission's official VAT verification service.

      https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/
    2. 2

      Select United Kingdom as the member state

      Choose the country code, then enter the VAT number without the country prefix.

    3. 3

      Read the response

      A "valid" response with legal name and address means the VAT number is genuinely registered. "Invalid" means it is not, or the trader has been de-registered.

    4. 4

      Cross-check in Companies House

      For the underlying company registration number and status, search the same entity in Companies House at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house.

      https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house
    5. 5

      Save the timestamp

      Keep the VIES timestamp for your records — this is the evidence tax authorities accept for reverse-charge invoicing.

    Open EU VIESAll United Kingdom records

    Frequently asked questions

    Is checking a United Kingdom VAT number free?

    Yes — the EU VIES service at https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/ is free, official, and does not require registration.

    What does an invalid VIES response mean for a United Kingdom VAT number?

    It means the VAT number is not currently registered for intra-EU trade — either it was never valid, was de-registered, or is only registered for domestic transactions.

    Can I look up a United Kingdom VAT number from a company name?

    VIES doesn't support name search. Use Companies House (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house) to find the company's VAT number by name, then validate it on VIES.

    People also ask about look up and validate a VAT number in United Kingdom

    The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.

    Is the United Kingdom company register free to search?

    Yes. Basic company lookups on the Companies House are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.

    What is the official United Kingdom business registry?

    The Companies House is the official public register of companies incorporated in United Kingdom. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/.

    How do I check if a United Kingdom VAT number is valid?

    Use the EU VIES service (ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/) or the Companies House. Enter the VAT number without spaces and pick United Kingdom from the country dropdown. A valid number returns the registered trading name and address; an invalid one returns "not valid".

    What does a United Kingdom VAT number look like?

    A United Kingdom VAT number always begins with the country's ISO code and is followed by the national numeric identifier. The exact length and check-digit rule depends on the country — see the format examples in the step-by-step above.

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