Deutschland · BZSt USt-IdNr.
German VAT Number Checker
Check a German Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer (USt-IdNr.) for correct format and confirm in real time, via the EU VIES system, that it is currently valid.
What is a German USt-IdNr.?
The USt-IdNr. (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer) is Germany’s VAT identification number: DE followed by nine digits, such as DE122265872. The Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) issues it on application, separately from the Finanzamt’s Steuernummer, and businesses need it for intra-EU supplies and reverse-charge invoices.
German USt-IdNr. format
The country code DE followed by nine digits; the last digit works as a check digit.
Example: DE122265872 (Telekom Deutschland GmbH, as printed in its Impressum).
- DE + 9 digits: The BZSt defines the format as “neun, nur Ziffern” — nine characters, digits only. There are no letters, branch suffixes or legacy German formats.
- Check digit: Neither the BZSt nor the EU publishes the algorithm. Valid numbers consistently satisfy the widely used ISO 7064 MOD 11,10 check; the often-quoted example DE123456789 fails it.
- Not a USt-IdNr.: A 10–13 digit Steuernummer (e.g. 12/345/67890), the 11-digit personal Steuer-ID, or a W-IdNr. with a -00001 suffix will not pass as a USt-IdNr.
- Stable number: It does not change with a new Steuernummer or a move to another Finanzamt, and usually not with a change of legal form.
How to check a German VAT number
- 1 Get the USt-IdNr. from the business’s invoice or website Impressum.
- 2 Enter it above, with or without DE. The checker validates the format, then queries the EU VIES system for its current validity.
- 3 Keep the result with your records as part of the evidence for a tax-exempt intra-EU supply or a reverse-charge invoice — no check can be made for a past date.
- 4 Checking on VIES or the BZSt yourself? Our EU VAT verification guide walks through the official services step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check a German VAT number? (Wie prüfe ich eine deutsche USt-IdNr.?)
Enter it in the checker on this page: it validates the format and confirms in real time, via the EU VIES system, whether the number is currently valid. For the official routes, see our EU VAT verification guide.
How many digits does a German USt-IdNr. have?
DE followed by nine digits — digits only, 11 characters in total, for example DE122265872. Enter it as one continuous string without spaces or dots; companies often print it with spaces, such as DE 122 265 872.
What is the difference between USt-IdNr. and Steuernummer?
The Steuernummer comes from the local Finanzamt and is used for domestic tax filings. The USt-IdNr. is a separate number the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) issues on application for EU trade. A domestic invoice may show either; an invoice for an intra-EU supply must show both parties’ USt-IdNr.
Why does VIES show no name or address for German VAT numbers?
Germany does not permit VIES to display the holder’s name or address, so even valid German numbers show “---”.
Is the W-IdNr. the same as the USt-IdNr.?
For businesses that held a USt-IdNr. on 30 November 2024, the new Wirtschafts-Identifikationsnummer is that same number plus the suffix -00001 (e.g. DE123456789-00001), effective 3 December 2024. The USt-IdNr. is still required for EU trade, and the W-IdNr. does not currently meet the invoice requirements of § 14 UStG.
Does the USt-IdNr. change if a company moves?
No. According to the BZSt it stays valid when the business gets a new Steuernummer, moves to another Finanzamt — even in another federal state — or enters insolvency proceedings. It ends only when the business asks the BZSt to end it or stops being registered for VAT.
Last reviewed: , against official sources.
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