How to verify NUIS Number in Albania?
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NUIS verification on QBK website
The QBK (Qendra Kombëtare e Biznesit — National Business Center) is Albania's official one-stop platform for business registration and licensing. Its business registry at qkb.gov.al is the authoritative source for NUIS verification, free to use with no login required.
- Access the Tool: Go to the QBK business registry search.
- Enter Search Terms: Search by NUIS (e.g.,
K72001008V), trade name, address, shareholders, or numri i identifikimit. The NUIS is a 10-character alphanumeric code. Note: NUIS and NIPT refer to the same identifier — NIPT is the legacy tax-administration label that still appears on invoices. - Review Results: The lookup returns the entity's NUIS, name, registered activity, active licenses, and registration status. You can also download a summary extract of the full business details.
| NUIS Verification on QBK |
Example NUIS: K72001008V
A successful NUIS lookup on the QBK registry returns the following details:
- NUIS
- Entity Name
- Activity
- Active licenses and license type
- Downloadable summary extract containing:
- Registration Status
- NUIS
- Registration Date
- Name of the Entity
- Legal Form
- Date of Establishment
- Duration
- Registered Office in Albania
- Capital
- Paid-up Capital Value
- Number of Shares
- Nominal Value
- Activity Object
- Management System
- Administrators and their Term of Appointment
- Other Locations of Business Activity
- Voluntarily Disclosed Information
- Trade Name
- Status
Here is a sample NUIS summary extract.
| NUIS Verification Status | |
The QBK registry confirms legal registration status only — it does not show VAT (TVSH) registration, tax compliance status, or Fiskalizimi enrollment. For VAT verification, contact the General Directorate of Taxes at tatime.gov.al separately.
For more details on Albanian tax IDs, see our Albania Tax ID Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NUIS the same number as NIPT, and which one appears on Albanian invoices?
NUIS (Numri Unik i Identifikimit të Subjektit) and NIPT (Numri i Identifikimit për Personin e Tatueshëm) are the same 10-character identifier — the same number, two names. NUIS is the modern official designation used by the QBK business registry. NIPT is the legacy tax-administration term that persists in customs documents, fiscal systems, and on invoices. When you search qkb.gov.al you are looking up a NUIS; when your Albanian supplier prints their number on an invoice under the label "NIPT," that is the identical number. A mismatch in label between what the QBK record shows and what an invoice states does not indicate fraud — the underlying 10-character code is what matters. [1]
Does having a NUIS mean a company is registered for VAT (TVSH) in Albania?
No. A NUIS is issued automatically upon business registration at QBK — it identifies the legal entity but does not confer VAT status. VAT registration (TVSH — Tatimi mbi Vlerën e Shtuar) is a separate step required only when annual taxable turnover exceeds ALL 10 million (approximately EUR 95,000). Businesses below that threshold are not VAT-registered even though they hold a valid NUIS. Voluntary VAT registration is permitted for businesses with turnover between ALL 5 million and ALL 10 million, but registrants must remain VAT-registered for a minimum of two years. A QBK result showing an active NUIS is not sufficient to confirm VAT status — TVSH registration must be confirmed separately with the General Directorate of Taxes at tatime.gov.al. [1] [2]
What makes an Albanian invoice valid under the Fiskalizimi system, and how does NUIS fit in?
Under Albania's Fiskalizimi (fiscal) system — mandatory for all businesses since 2021 — every issued invoice must carry both the issuer's NUIS/NIPT and a NIVF (Numri i Identifikimit të Veçantë të Faturës), a unique invoice identification number generated in real time by Albania's Central Information System (CIS). A QR code linking to the NIVF must also appear on the invoice. An invoice that carries only a NUIS without a NIVF is not a valid fiscal invoice under Albanian law. A fiscalized invoice cannot be amended once the CIS has issued the NIVF — the only remedy is a corrective invoice that explicitly references the original NIVF, issuer NUIS, serial number, and issue date. [1]
Do foreign companies doing business in Albania need their own NUIS, and what is the process?
Yes. Any legal or natural person conducting commercial activity in Albania must register at QBK and obtain a NUIS before commencing operations — there is no revenue threshold that delays this obligation. Foreign companies may register a branch, subsidiary, or representative office; all receive their own Albanian NUIS issued by QBK at registration. Registration is completed through the e-Albania platform at e-albania.al or at any QBK counter. The NUIS is generated electronically at the time of registration. [1]
Does a branch office in Albania have a different NUIS from its foreign parent company?
Yes. An Albanian branch of a foreign company is registered as a separate entity at QBK and receives its own distinct NUIS, different from any identifier held by the parent abroad. When you look up the branch on qkb.gov.al, you are verifying the Albanian branch's registration — not the parent company's standing in its home country. The branch NUIS is the number that must appear on Albanian invoices, fiscal receipts, and tax filings for Albanian-sourced activity. Providing the foreign parent's home-country identifier as an Albanian tax ID is incorrect; the branch's own QBK-issued NUIS is required.
When verifying a supplier on QBK, does an "active" status confirm the company is still trading?
Not entirely. The QBK registry records legal registration status — whether the entity was incorporated and whether a formal deregistration event has been filed. It does not reflect operational trading activity, solvency, or insolvency proceedings not yet concluded. Voluntary deregistrations and court-ordered dissolutions can take weeks to propagate into the QBK public record, meaning a NUIS can show "active" after a company has ceased to trade. In high-value B2B transactions, cross-referencing against the General Directorate of Taxes at tatime.gov.al for tax compliance status is recommended. [1]
How does a supplier's NUIS status affect the withholding tax I must deduct from payments?
Albania's Income Tax Law (Law no. 29/2023, in force from 1 January 2024) differentiates between payments to registered and unregistered payees. Payments to Albanian companies with an active NUIS and registered taxpayer status are generally not subject to withholding at source between registered businesses. Payments to unregistered persons or foreign entities without an Albanian NUIS attract withholding tax at 15% on services, 8% on dividends, and 5–8% on royalties depending on type. Failing to verify a supplier's NUIS before payment — and then failing to withhold when required — creates a tax liability for the paying company. Double Tax Treaties may reduce these rates where applicable. [1] [2]
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