How to Find VAT Number of a Business?

A VAT number (Value Added Tax registration number) is a unique identifier issued by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to every VAT-registered business in the UK.

Verifying this number is essential when dealing with suppliers, contractors, or partners, as it ensures the business is legally registered to charge VAT and allows you to reclaim input tax correctly.

You can find and confirm a company’s VAT number using official databases such as the HMRC VAT Registration Checker or the EU VIES system for cross-border validation.

This guide explains the most reliable ways to locate and verify VAT numbers, helping you stay compliant and avoid costly VAT reclaim errors.

The Essential Role of the VAT Number in UK Commerce

Before delving into the how, it is vital to fully appreciate the why. The VAT number is a unique nine-digit identifier (often prefixed with ‘GB’ for the UK) issued by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to all VAT-registered businesses. It is the lynchpin of the entire VAT system, a consumption tax levied on most goods and services in the UK.

For a business to reclaim the Input VAT it has paid on purchases (a mechanism critical to cash flow), it must hold a valid VAT invoice.

A prerequisite for a valid VAT invoice is the inclusion of the supplier’s name, address, and, crucially, their VAT registration number. Without this, your ability to reclaim significant tax amounts is severely compromised, directly impacting your bottom line.

Key Reasons Why Locating a VAT Number is Imperative:

1. Reclaiming Input Tax: The primary reason. HMRC demands proof of VAT registration from your supplier to authorise your VAT recovery.
2. Due Diligence and Verification: Verifying the legitimacy of a supplier or client. If a company is required to be VAT registered but refuses to provide their number, it raises a significant red flag regarding their compliance status.
3. Cross-Border Trade (EU/NI): For transactions involving goods or services with EU or Northern Ireland businesses, the correct and verified VAT number is essential for applying the zero-rating mechanism (B2B services) or for Reverse Charge rules, ensuring proper application of customs and VAT law post-Brexit.
4. Compliance: As a business, you have a legal obligation to ensure your invoices to clients display your own VAT number, and your records from suppliers are complete. See VAT invoicing rules.

Understanding this importance provides the context for how to find a VAT number of a business swiftly and accurately.

Country	Prefix	Format
UK	GB	GB123456789
Germany	DE	DE123456789
France	FR	FRXX123456789
Italy	IT	IT12345678901

Why is a VAT Number Important?

When I reclaim VAT from HMRC, I must prove that the supplier I purchased from is also VAT registered. If I use an invalid VAT number, HMRC will reject the claim, potentially leading to penalties, audits, or worse, loss of reclaimable funds.

From a legal and financial perspective, how to find VAT number of a business is not just a convenience, it’s a necessity.

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How Do I Get My Own VAT Number?

If you’ve just registered for VAT, you’ll receive a VAT registration certificate from HMRC. It’s sent either by post or digitally via your HMRC business tax account.

To access it:

1. Go to your HMRC Government Gateway Account.
   
2. Navigate to “Business Tax Account.”
   
3. Download your VAT certificate and make a note of the number.
   

Remember to keep it safe, you’ll need this number for all invoices, returns, and communications with HMRC.

How to Find VAT Number of a Business in the UK

Let’s talk about how you can find another business’s VAT number. Whether it’s a supplier, contractor or partner, here are my tried-and-tested methods:

1. Check the Invoice or Receipt

The quickest and most reliable method for finding a business’s VAT number is simply knowing where UK law mandates its display.

HMRC rules are crystal clear: VAT-registered companies must prominently feature their VAT number in several key locations. Therefore, your first step in finding a company’s VAT details should always be to review their official documentation and correspondence.

Business Documentation: Invoices, Receipts, and Orders

The most reliable source for how to find vat number of a business is the documentation they have issued to you. Under UK VAT law, a valid VAT invoice must contain:

• A unique identifying number.
• The seller’s name or trading name and address.
• The seller’s VAT registration number.
• The time of supply.
• The date the document was issued.
• The customer’s name or trading name and address.
• A description of the goods or services supplied.
• The price, VAT rate, and total amount payable.

If you have an invoice or receipt from the business in question, check the header, footer, or ‘company details’ section.

Website and Digital Presence

Under UK’s Company disclosure rules, a business’s online presence is also subject to mandatory. To answer the query, “How do I find a company’s VAT number UK?” quickly, follow these steps on their website:

• The Footer: The bottom of a website often contains key legal information. Look for the VAT number alongside the Company Registration Number.
• Terms and Conditions/Legal Notices: These pages must list the full corporate details, including the VAT number.
• Contact Us Page: Occasionally, it is listed here, especially if the company is keen to show its legitimacy.
• The About Us Page: A great source for verifying the business’s legal name and company structure, which helps with subsequent searches.

Business Correspondence and Legal Stationery

Any official communication, particularly printed materials or PDF documents, should include the VAT number. This includes:

• Official Letterheads: The VAT number is a legal requirement on all official printed stationery.
• Order Forms/Quotations: While not full VAT invoices, these often include VAT numbers for pre-sales verification.
• Email Signatures: Whilst not legally mandated on every single email, most compliant businesses integrate it into their professional email signature block, along with their Company Registration Number.

If you are a director or finance officer asking, “Where can I find my company VAT?”, the answer is always found in your internal records, such as your filing system for VAT returns and your master template for invoicing.

It should be one of the most accessible pieces of financial data your company holds. This is supported by The Companies (Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2008.

2. Search on the HMRC Website

When a direct request or a search of public documents proves unsuccessful, you must turn to official governmental registers. This is where the intricacies of how to find UK business tax number information become apparent, as the term “business tax number” can refer to a few different identifiers.

The VIES VAT Number Validation Tool

The most robust official tool available for VAT number verification is the VIES (VAT Information Exchange System).

This system is managed by the European Commission, and while the UK has left the EU, it remains the standard tool for verifying the VAT numbers of businesses based in:

• EU Member States.
• Northern Ireland (due to the Northern Ireland Protocol, which means NI businesses operate under EU VAT rules for goods).

If the company you are dealing with is outside Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales), you must use VIES to verify their VAT number, as this is a fundamental element of applying the correct zero-rating or Reverse Charge mechanism.

How to Use the VIES Tool:

1. Navigate to the official VIES website.
2. Select the Member State of the supplier/customer (e.g., Ireland, Germany, or Northern Ireland).
3. Enter the business’s VAT registration number (excluding the country prefix).
4. The system will instantly confirm if the number is valid and return the associated legal name and address.

Direct Query and The HMRC Stance

If you are dealing with a company based in Great Britain, and they have refused to supply their number or you suspect it is fraudulent, your options are more limited than with EU/NI trade.

• Direct Approach: The most pragmatic step is often a formal, written request (an email from your accounts department) to the supplier’s finance team, stating that the VAT number is required to process the invoice for input tax recovery.
• HMRC Intervention (Extreme Cases): While HMRC does not provide a general public search, they do have a mechanism for addressing suspected fraud. If a business is charging you VAT but will not provide a number, or you have evidence the number is false, you can contact HMRC’s Fraud Hotline or HMRC’s VAT Helpline. This is usually reserved for serious cases and not a routine check for how to find vat number of a business.

Utilising Public Company Data (Indirect Search)

While Companies House does not store the VAT number, it can be an indispensable tool for obtaining the business’s legal registered name and Company Registration Number (CRN).

• Step 1: Find the CRN: Use the Companies House service to search by company name. This provides the CRN.
• Step 2: Cross-Reference: You can now use this CRN and the formal legal name to search online (invoices, legal documents, contracts, etc.) with much greater precision to uncover the associated VAT number. The combination of “Legal Company Name” + “VAT Number” in a search engine is often far more effective than just searching for the company name alone.

This two-step process demonstrates a higher level of due diligence and answers the practical question: “How do I find a company’s VAT number UK?” when the initial steps fail.

🧾 EU VIES VAT Number Checker – This free tool helps verify if a VAT number is valid and matches the details of the registered business.

3. Check with Companies House

If the business is a limited company, go to Companies House, search for the business by name, and review their filings. Some documents may include VAT registration data.

4. Ask the Business Directly

If all else fails, send an official request via email or letter. Most businesses are happy to provide their VAT number, especially if it ensures smooth financial processing.

How to Find VAT Number of a Business in the EU

When dealing with suppliers or companies within the EU, how to find VAT number of a business involves an extra layer of diligence. The VIES tool mentioned earlier is your best bet.

Make sure you know:

• The correct country code (e.g., FR for France, DE for Germany)
  
• The legal name and address of the company
  

Note: Some countries refer to VAT as something else — for example, IVA in Italy or BTW in the Netherlands — so adjust your search terms accordingly.

Can I Search by Business Name Only?

Yes — to some extent. If you’re trying to find VAT number of a business by its name, the most reliable route is through Companies House or commercial databases like Endole or DueDil (now part of Artesian). However, these services may require a subscription.

How to Verify a VAT Number in the UK

Verifying is just as important as finding.

To confirm a UK VAT number:

1. Use the EU VIES system.
   
2. If not listed, call the HMRC VAT Helpline at 0300 200 3700.
   
3. Request written confirmation if needed for legal protection.
   

Remember, you’re liable if you reclaim VAT using a false or invalid VAT number — even if the supplier gave it to you.

Reclaiming VAT? Be Careful.

Once you’ve got the VAT number, ensure it’s added to your accounting software (like Xero or QuickBooks). Use it in your VAT Return (MTD-compatible) filings.

📌 How to Reclaim VAT – GOV.UK

If the number is invalid or missing, HMRC may reject your claim. That’s why learning how to find VAT number of a business is critical to maintaining compliance and cash flow.

Advanced Due Diligence, Fraud, and International VAT Numbers

As a UK-based tax expert, I must also caution you about the risks of fraud and provide guidance for dealing with VAT numbers from non-UK/non-EU jurisdictions, particularly in an increasingly globalised economy.

Dealing with Suspected Fraudulent VAT Numbers

Knowing how to find vat number of a business is only half the battle; the other half is ensuring the number is genuine and valid at the time of the transaction.

A fraudulent scheme often involves a business charging VAT but not passing it on to HMRC, or even an individual pretending to be a VAT-registered business. If an official tool like VIES fails to validate an EU/NI number, or if a UK business is evasive:

1. Cease Input VAT Claim: If you cannot verify the number, do not claim input VAT on the associated purchase. If HMRC audits you and finds an invalid number, the VAT claim will be disallowed, and you may face penalties.
2. Request the Certificate: Formally request a copy of their VAT Registration Certificate (VAT 4). A legitimate business should be able to produce this without issue.
3. Cross-Reference Names: If a VAT number is valid, always check that the name returned by the verification tool (VIES) or printed on the certificate exactly matches the trading name and legal entity you are contracting with. Discrepancies here are a major warning sign.

Searching for Non-EU/Non-UK Business Tax Numbers

For businesses outside the standard UK and EU sphere, the method for finding a UK business tax number analogue will vary significantly:

• Australia (ABN): Use the Australian Business Register (ABR) to search for the Australian Business Number (ABN), which includes GST registration status.
• USA (EIN/TIN): The US does not have a federal VAT/GST system. Businesses use an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), which is strictly confidential and not publicly searchable. Verification often relies on obtaining a W-9 form from the vendor.
• Canada (GST/HST): The Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) provides a registry for checking the validity of GST/HST numbers.

In all international cases, you must consult the specific jurisdiction’s tax authority website. Never assume that the process for how to find vat number of a business in the UK will apply overseas.

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Final Thoughts

I hope this article has clarified how to find VAT number of a business — whether in the UK or EU. As a business owner and tax specialist, I can assure you that spending a few extra minutes verifying VAT numbers can save you a mountain of financial stress later.

Whether you’re working with a new supplier, contractor, or client, it’s not just smart — it’s good business hygiene to ensure their VAT number is valid and active.

If you have more questions, drop them in the comments or reach out via our contact page. At taxcalculatorsuk.co.uk, we’re committed to helping UK businesses stay tax-smart.

FAQs

Q1: Is it illegal to charge VAT without a VAT number?
Yes. Only VAT-registered businesses can legally charge VAT in the UK.

Q2: Can I claim VAT without a valid VAT number from the supplier?
No. HMRC will reject claims without a valid VAT number.

Q3: Can sole traders have VAT numbers?
Absolutely. Sole traders earning above the VAT threshold (£90,000 as of 2025) must register for VAT.