Irish VAT number check
Check an Irish 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 | IE |
|---|---|
| After the prefix | 8 or 9 characters, with letters |
| Structure | One block of 8 or 9 characters: digits with one or two letters, which can sit at the end or in the second position. |
| Examples | IE1234567WA or IE1Z23456A |
You can paste the number with spaces, dots or dashes; the checker removes them.
What it's called
VAT registration number (VAT number).
Registered, but invalid in VIES?
Since 2019 Irish VAT registration is either Domestic-only or Intra-EU. Only Intra-EU registrations are added to VIES, so a Domestic-only number shows invalid even though it is correct.
What trips people up
- Irish numbers contain letters. Don't strip them or assume the number is all digits.
- An invalid result for an Irish supplier often means a Domestic-only registration. The business can apply to Revenue for Intra-EU status.
Other ways to check
VIES is the check to rely on for cross-border trade. The number is issued by Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue); if a correct number keeps showing invalid, the business has to take it up with them.
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 Irish VAT numbers
What is the format of an Irish VAT number?
IE followed by 8 or 9 characters, with letters. Example: IE1234567WA or IE1Z23456A.
What is an Irish VAT number called?
VAT registration number (VAT number).
Why would a correct Irish VAT number show as invalid in VIES?
Since 2019 Irish VAT registration is either Domestic-only or Intra-EU. Only Intra-EU registrations are added to VIES, so a Domestic-only number shows invalid even though it is correct.