German VAT number check
Check a German supplier's or customer's number against VIES, the European Commission's register. Below: the format, what it's called locally, and the mistakes that make a correct number fail.
Paste the number with or without the country prefix. Nothing you enter is stored.
The format
| Prefix | DE |
|---|---|
| After the prefix | 9 digits |
| Structure | One block of 9 digits. |
| Example | DE123456789 |
You can paste the number with spaces, dots or dashes; the checker removes them.
What it's called
Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer, shortened to USt-IdNr.
The USt-IdNr. is separate from the Steuernummer (tax number) that the local tax office assigns. It is issued by the Federal Central Tax Office on request, usually on the tax registration questionnaire.
Registered, but invalid in VIES?
It isn't automatic: a business has to ask for it, so a German company with a Steuernummer may not have one.
What trips people up
- Many German invoices show the Steuernummer (for example 12/345/67890). Only the DE + 9-digit USt-IdNr. can be checked in VIES.
- VIES doesn't show the name or address for German numbers. The BZSt's qualified check matches name and address, but only for numbers from other countries.
Other ways to check
BZSt confirmation service (eVatR): For German businesses checking other countries' numbers. It needs your own USt-IdNr. and generally does not confirm German numbers. For cross-border trade, the VIES result above is the one to keep with your VAT records.
Sources
Formats from the European Commission's VIES FAQ, checked 16 October 2026. Rules can change; the tax authority's own guidance wins.
Questions about German VAT numbers
What is the format of a German VAT number?
DE followed by 9 digits. Example: DE123456789.
What is a German VAT number called?
Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer, shortened to USt-IdNr. The USt-IdNr. is separate from the Steuernummer (tax number) that the local tax office assigns. It is issued by the Federal Central Tax Office on request, usually on the tax registration questionnaire.
Why would a correct German VAT number show as invalid in VIES?
It isn't automatic: a business has to ask for it, so a German company with a Steuernummer may not have one.