United Kingdom · HMRC VAT
UK VAT Number Checker
Validate a GB VAT registration number against the official UK registry and see the business name and address it is registered to.
What is a UK VAT number?
A UK VAT registration number (VRN) is the 9-digit number HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) issues to every VAT-registered business. It is usually written with a GB prefix — for example GB 220 4302 31 — and must appear on every VAT invoice the business issues.
UK VAT number format
Nine digits, an optional GB prefix, and two check digits at the end.
registration number
Example: GB 220 4302 31 (Tesco PLC). Spaces are presentation only.
- 9 digits: Every standard UK VAT number has nine digits. Enter it with or without GB — both 123456789 and GB123456789 are accepted.
- Check digits: HMRC confirms the last two digits are calculated from the first seven with a standard formula, but does not publish it. The widely used modulus-97 checks are community-documented, not HMRC’s.
- Other series: A 12-digit form also exists. Government departments use GD plus three digits (or a nine-digit number beginning 888 8); HMRC’s manuals describe health authorities as HA-prefixed or 654-series numbers.
- Not a VAT number: UK is not a valid prefix (use GB), and an EORI number — GB followed by 12 or 15 digits, often the VAT number plus 000 — will fail a VAT check.
How to check a UK VAT number
- 1 Get the full VAT number from the business — it is printed on its VAT invoices, receipts or website. There is no official search by company name.
- 2 Enter it above, with or without the GB prefix. The checker validates the format, then confirms it against the official registry.
- 3 Compare the returned business name and address with the supplier or customer you are dealing with.
- 4 Checking on HMRC’s own service instead? Our UK VAT verification guide walks through it step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check a UK VAT number by company name?
No. A UK VAT number can only be checked from the number itself — there is no official search by business name. Ask the business for its VAT number or look on its invoices, receipts or website, then check it here.
What format is a UK VAT number?
A standard UK VAT registration number is 9 digits, usually written with a GB prefix (GB123456789) or spaced as GB 123 4567 89. HMRC’s checker also accepts a 12-digit form, and government departments use a separate GD-prefixed series followed by three digits.
Why does a GB VAT number not work in VIES?
VIES only covers the 27 EU member states plus Northern Ireland (XI). Since the Brexit transition period ended on 1 January 2021, GB numbers cannot be checked there — VIES rejects GB as an input rather than returning “invalid”. Use the checker on this page instead.
What is the difference between a GB and an XI VAT number?
They are the same 9-digit number. Northern Ireland businesses trading goods with the EU under the Windsor Framework quote it with an XI prefix, and XI numbers can be checked in VIES. Use the Northern Ireland XI VAT checker for those.
Is a VAT number the same as a company registration number?
No. The VAT number is issued by HMRC to VAT-registered businesses; the company registration number (CRN) is issued by Companies House to incorporated companies. A company has both, a sole trader may have only a VAT number. Check a UK company number.
Why is a newly registered VAT number showing as invalid?
HMRC notes that its databases may not yet include registrations made in the last 48 hours, and numbers whose registration is still pending cannot be checked at all. Wait a couple of days and re-check before treating the number as invalid.
Last reviewed: , against official sources.
UK business IDs compared
Every UK identifier Lookuptax validates.
| ID | Who has one | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK VAT number (this page) | VAT-registered businesses (issued by HMRC) | 9 digits, optional GB prefix | GB220430231 |
| UK company number (CRN) | Companies, LLPs and partnerships on the Companies House register | 8 characters: 8 digits, or a 2-character prefix + 6 digits | 00445790 |
| Northern Ireland XI VAT number | UK VAT-registered businesses trading goods under the Windsor Framework | XI + the same 9 digits as the GB number | XI853759092 |
Validate UK VAT numbers at scale
One API for UK VAT and company numbers plus 120+ other countries — with registered name and address in every response.