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How to verify RUT in Chile?

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RUT verification on SII website​

You can check the validity of a RUT on the Chile SII website for free. You can access the RUT lookup service here. Using this tool you can search for a company by the RUT number. You are required to clear a CAPTCHA before submitting the search request.

To verify a Chilean RUT:

  1. Go to the SII RUT lookup portal.
  2. Complete the CAPTCHA challenge.
  3. Enter the RUT in the format XXXXXXXX-X (e.g. 96557720-3).
  4. Submit — results appear immediately.
RUT lookup
RUT lookup - Chile

Example RUT: 96557720-3

A successful verification of the RUT on the SII RUT lookup tool will return the following details:

  • Name of the business
  • Taxpayer RUT
  • Consultation date
  • Taxpayer presents Start of Activities: Yes/No
  • Activities Start Date
  • Taxpayer authorized to declare and pay taxes in foreign currency: Yes/No
  • Taxpayer is a Company Smaller-sized companies (according to Law No. 20,416): Yes/No
  • Current Economic Activities:
    • Activities
    • Code
    • Category
    • VAT affects Date
  • Stamped Documents:
    • Document
    • Last year of stamping
Successful RUT Verification on SII website
Successful RUT Verification

For more details on Chilean tax identifiers, see our Chile Tax ID Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions​

What is the format of a Chilean RUT and how is the verification digit (dígito verificador) calculated?​

A Chilean RUT is formatted as XXXXXXXX-X (7–8 digit body + hyphen + verification digit). The verification digit is calculated using the Modulo 11 algorithm: multiply each body digit right-to-left by the sequence 2,3,4,5,6,7 (repeating); sum the products; take 11 − (sum mod 11). Result 11 → 0; result 10 → K; otherwise it equals the result. Implementing this check client-side eliminates ~15% of invalid RUTs before any SII portal query. [1]

What is the difference between a Chilean RUT and a RUN?​

RUN (Rol Único Nacional) — assigned by the Registro Civil to all natural persons; it is the national identity number. RUT (Rol Único Tributario) — assigned by the SII to all taxpaying entities. For Chilean natural persons, the RUT and RUN are the same number. For legal entities (companies, branches), only a RUT exists. In business and tax contexts, "RUT" is the standard term; "RUN" appears on the carnet de identidad (identity card). [1]

The SII lookup shows "Taxpayer presents Start of Activities: No" — can I still transact with this supplier?​

No — without Inicio de Actividades (Start of Activities), the entity cannot legally issue invoices or charge IVA. Any invoice they issue is not tax-valid and you cannot claim crédito fiscal IVA on it. The RUT may exist (assigned at company formation) but without this registration, the entity is not yet operating as a taxpayer. This is a significant compliance red flag. [1]

What are "Stamped Documents" (Documentos Timbrados) in the SII RUT result?​

"Stamped Documents" shows the document types the supplier is authorized to issue and the last year they were stamped. Chile has been pushing toward full electronic invoicing (DTE — Documentos Tributarios Electrónicos) since 2017. Most businesses should use electronic documents today. A very old last-stamping year (e.g. 2015) with no electronic invoicing may indicate an inactive or non-compliant supplier. [1]

How does Chilean IVA (VAT) work, and when must a supplier charge it?​

Chile's IVA is a flat 19% rate — no reduced rates and no registration threshold. All entities with Inicio de Actividades performing taxable operations must charge IVA. The "VAT Affects Date" in the SII result shows when the supplier's activity became IVA-affected. Exempt activities include residential real estate rental, health services, education, and certain financial services. Non-resident digital service providers must register for simplified IVA (since 2020 reforms). [1]

My Chilean supplier is classified as "Company Smaller-sized companies (Law No. 20,416)" — what does this mean?​

Law No. 20,416 (Estatuto PYME) classifies companies by annual sales: micro (up to UF 2,400), small (UF 2,400–25,000), medium (UF 25,000–100,000). The SME classification affects access to simplified taxation regimes (Régimen ProPyme) but does not exempt the company from IVA — all Chilean taxpayers charge 19% IVA regardless of size. [1]

How do I verify a Chilean RUT programmatically?​

The SII does not provide an official public REST API for RUT validation. The CAPTCHA-protected portal makes automated scraping contrary to SII terms. Best options: (1) implement Modulo 11 check digit validation client-side to pre-filter invalid formats; (2) use third-party services like Lookuptax for batch RUT validation; (3) for DTE/e-invoicing integration, the SII provides certified APIs for approved software developers. [1]

How Lookuptax can help you in VAT validation?

Lookuptax VAT validation revolutionizes VAT number validation with its robust platform, empowering businesses to seamlessly verify VAT numbers across over 100 countries. Our cutting-edge technology ensures accurate and efficient validation, reducing errors and enhancing compliance.

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