How do you find a company VAT number in the UK - KYC Lookup
Customise Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

£ 0 Login
Fully Accredited AML Online Training Enhance Your Internal AML Training With Video Tutorials Continuous Development AML Training
Enhance Your Internal AML Training With Video Tutorials
 

How do you find a company VAT number in the UK

How do you find a company VAT number in the UK

What is VAT Number

A Value Added a Tax-registered number is a unique number issued to businesses that are registered to pay VAT.

Value Added Tax (VAT) is a percentage(20%) added to goods and services charged to consumers and businesses that other businesses registered for VAT can reclaim from HMRC.

VAT numbers in the EU consist of 15 alphanumeric characters with the first two indicating the country of the registered business.

Post registration for VAT, the business is provided with a unique VAT number that other businesses need to reclaim the tax paid.

Businesses can find their VAT registered number on the VAT registration certificate issued by HMRC(HM Revenue & Customs).

Registering Your Company For VAT

Most businesses can be registered online.

By doing so you will be registering for VAT and creating a VAT online account ( ‘Government Gateway account’). You will need this to submit your VAT Returns to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

You could also use an agent to submit your VAT returns.

You should then get a VAT registration certificate within 30 working days.

It is sent either:

  1. to your VAT online account.
  2. by post (if an agent registers you or if under any circumstance you cannot register online.)

How to Verify the Value Added Tax number

Following steps should be undertaken to identify whether the VAT number is correct or not –

  1. List the VAT number vertically excluding the first two letters (that is, excluding the country code).
  2. Then multiply each value of VAT registered number starting with 8 and ending with 2.
  3. Add up all the values obtained after multiplying each value of the VAT number.
  4. Then, deduct 97 from the total sum until the answer becomes negative.

The negative value obtained must match the last 2 digits of the VAT number.

If the negative value does not match with the last 2 digits, the VAT number is considered invalid.

How to Find a Company’s VAT Number in the UK

It is vital to know that the UK VAT numbers are nine digits long, and often have the letters ‘GB’ at the start.

You have two options when it comes to performing a VAT registration check in the UK.  One could:

  1.  Call the HMRC VAT Helpline which is open between 8 am and 8 pm during the week.
  2.  You could use the VIES website, an online VAT checker for businesses in the EU. This website uses real-time data feeds from individual member states’ VAT systems.

If the website shows a VAT number as invalid, you should double check with the company to make sure you have the correct number. You might also wish to inform them that the VIES site is displaying the number as invalid so they can contact HMRC to correct any problems with this.

Why is it important to check a VAT number

If you don’t verify a VAT number and end up entering an invalid number on your tax return, then you could invalidate your invoice and the HMRC could disallow your tax input claim. This could result in leaving you figuring the cost and handling a big paperwork trail.

In most cases, errors with VAT numbers come from innocent mistakes but there are instances in which some people try to fraudulently use someone else’s VAT number.

No Comments

Post A Comment