Malta · VAT number
Malta VAT Number Checker
Check a Maltese VAT number for correct format and confirm in real time via the EU VIES system that it is valid — with the registered name and address.
What is a Maltese VAT number?
A Maltese VAT number is MT followed by 8 digits, issued by the Commissioner for Tax and Customs (MTCA) to businesses registered under article 10 or 12 of the VAT Act — for example MT12826209 for GO p.l.c. Small enterprises registered under article 11 get a number without MT that is not valid for EU trade.
Maltese VAT number format
MT and eight digits.
(articles 10 and 12)
Example: MT12826209 (GO p.l.c., Malta; company number C 22334).
- 10 characters: MT + 8 digits. Printed forms such as “MT 1282-6209” are the same number.
- Article 11: Small-enterprise numbers have no MT prefix and are not VAT identification numbers, so VIES rejects them.
- Not a VAT number: A Malta Business Registry C number or a 9-digit income-tax TIN is a different identifier.
- Name and address: Malta releases the registered name and address through VIES, so a valid result shows who the number belongs to.
How to check a Maltese VAT number
- 1 Find the VAT number on the company’s invoice or website — not the C number printed next to it.
- 2 Enter it above, with or without MT. The checker confirms the number via VIES.
- 3 Compare the returned name and address with your supplier or customer.
- 4 Want to run the official checks yourself? Our EU VAT verification guide walks through them step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the format of a Maltese VAT number?
MT followed by 8 digits — for example MT12826209 for GO p.l.c., which prints it as “MT 1282-6209”. Remove spaces and hyphens before checking.
How do I check a Maltese VAT number?
Enter it in the checker on this page, with or without MT: it confirms the number via the EU VIES system and shows the registered name and address. For the official route, see our EU VAT verification guide.
Why is a Maltese VAT number invalid in VIES?
One common reason is an article 11 registration. Small enterprises registered under article 11 of the VAT Act get a number without the MT prefix that, by law, is not a VAT identification number — so VIES rejects it. Only article 10 and article 12 registrations carry MT.
What is the difference between article 10, 11 and 12 VAT numbers?
Article 10 is full VAT registration for businesses that charge VAT. Article 11 is the small-enterprise registration with no MT prefix. Article 12 covers intra-EU acquisitions and reverse-charge cross-border services by persons not registered under article 10, including non-taxable legal persons. Our Malta VAT guide explains each.
Is the C number the same as the VAT number?
No. The C number is a company’s registration number with the Malta Business Registry — GO p.l.c. is C 22334 — while its VAT number is MT12826209. The tax identification number (TIN) is a third, separate number.
Does a Maltese VAT number have a check digit?
The Commissioner for Tax and Customs has not published one. Live numbers pass a commonly used mod-37 check, but only a VIES lookup confirms registration. The sample MT12345678 is not a valid number.
Last reviewed: , against official sources.
Validate EU VAT numbers at scale
Check Maltese and EU VAT numbers against VIES in one API call — with registered name and address where the country provides it.