Last Updated on December 24, 2025 by Joy Kyalo
A VAT registration number is the most essential number for businesses that trade in the UK. A VAT registration number is a unique nine-digit code, typically preceded by ‘GB’, assigned by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to companies registered for Value Added Tax in the UK.
Example: GB123456789
This number must be present on invoices, receipts, and some official forms of communication.
As a supplier, customer, or partner, you may want to verify a company VAT number to ensure invoices are legitimate, establish compliance, or recover input VAT. How to find a company’s VAT registration number and confirm this information? This guide takes you through the step-by-step procedure.
Key Takeaways
- A VAT number is a unique ID used by HMRC to verify VAT-registered businesses.
- You can find a company’s VAT number on invoices, its website, or via HMRC/VIES tools.
- Not all businesses need VAT registration, only those meeting thresholds or trading internationally
- Always verify VAT numbers through official channels to avoid errors or fraud.
When do you need to get a VAT number?
Not all businesses have a VAT number. When looking for a business’s VAT number, confirm if they are registered, since it is not a compulsory requirement for every business. You register for a VAT number if;
- Your business’s annual taxable turnover exceeds the VAT threshold, which is £90,000
- If you expect your taxable turnover to exceed £90,000 in the next 30 days
Regardless of taxable turnover, businesses must register if;
- They are based outside the UK
- You supply goods and services to the UK
- Voluntary registration if you want to reclaim VAT
- If you are working with bigger companies that require VAT registration
Why you may need to find a VAT number
- To reclaim VAT on supplies.
- To check if suppliers are fully registered with HMRC.
- To avoid fraud, counterfeit VAT numbers are used in fraudulent propositions.
- In the case of cross-border trade, overseas partners can check VAT numbers.
- To meet the online marketplace VAT rules and regulations
- To determine the right VAT rates for international trading
- Keep proper records for HMRC checks.
How to find a company’s VAT registration number
Check the invoice or receipt of the company
By law, UK businesses registered for VAT must display their VAT number on all tax invoices, receipts, and credit notes.
Search towards the bottom or the top, on the right-hand side of the invoice, usually close to the company registration details.
The correct format is a 9-digit VAT number, prefixed by the letter ‘GB’ (e.g., GB123456789).
Visit the company website or documents
The VAT numbers of many businesses may be included:
- Website footers
- Terms and conditions/ privacy policy pages
- Quotation, contracts, or letterheads
For e-commerce companies, the VAT number may appear on the order confirmation or during checkout.
Pro Tip: Find VAT Details Faster
Always start with the company’s invoice or official documents – VAT numbers are legally required to appear there. If you can’t find it, use HMRC or VIES tools for accurate verification instead of relying on search engines or guesswork.
Using your Government Gateway account
When registering for a VAT number, you will need to create a Government Gateway account. To find your VAT number, you can navigate to the account and go to “Making Tax Digital for VAT”, click on “View Your Account” to access the VAT portal. The VAT number is always displayed on the portal, which you can download to have copies of the VAT registration certificate.
Use the EU VIES System (for Cross-Border Trade)
Visit the VAT Information Exchange System (VIES) and enter the VAT number (if available) to verify its validity. VIES service is offered by the European Commission, which enables users to check the VAT number of businesses registered in the 27 EU member states and Northern Ireland.
For UK companies post-Brexit: VAT numbers still use the GB prefix, but checks are limited to cross-border transactions.
To use VIES, you will need the following information:
- The member state (UK)
- The VAT number you want to check
- Requestor member state
- Requestor VAT number
Click ‘verify’ once all the information has been submitted. After the search, the result will show if the VAT number is valid, does not exist, is not activated, or the VAT number registration is not completed.
Check via HMRC
HMRC provides you with the option to check if the UK VAT number is valid. Use HMRC VAT number validation service (online through your HMRC account or API). You will need the VAT number of the business in question to establish its authenticity.
Alternatively, you
Write to the companies directly:
The easiest way to find a VAT number is to ask the business itself, in case you cannot find it online or on the invoices.
In accordance with VAT registration, any company registered in terms of VAT should give out its VAT number when demanded.
Failure to do this may be an indicator that the firm is not VAT-registered.
What if you cannot find it?
- It is possible that the company is not VAT-registered (only mandatory registration would be made in case of the taxable turnover exceeding the threshold of £90,000 in 2024/25).
- They may be below the threshold and legally not registered to pay VAT.
It is essential not to conclude that there is fraud until you verify it is true.
Tips to avoid errors
- VAT numbers in the UK are of 9 characters, including the GB prefix.
- Be careful of false or non-standardised numbers on invoices.
- It is not enough to search Google, but rather to use official channels to verify (HMRC or VIES).
To conclude, it is generally easy to find and verify the VAT number of a UK company through its invoices and websites. Also, check the HMRC or VIES website for company verifications. Otherwise, if you fail to find it, ask the company.
BusinAssist offers VAT number registration services. Once a company registers for a VAT number with our services, business owners can find their VAT number in the certificate we send once HMRC sends them the VAT registration number by post.
We also create a Government Gateway account for our clients, where they can easily log in and find their VAT number on the VAT MTD portal. To register a VAT number for your business, contact us at info@businassist.com.
FAQs
Q: What does a VAT registration number look like?
Ans: A VAT number registration number is a nine-digit code that contains the country’s prefix followed by nine numbers.
In the UK – GB987654321
In Northern Ireland – XI987654321
Q: Is the company registration number the same as the VAT number?
Ans: No, the company registration number is not the same as the VAT number. A company registration number is one that the company is given after registration of a UK limited company, and a VAT number is given to any business after its annual taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 or registers voluntarily.
Q: Can I check a VAT registration number?
Ans: Yes, you can check a VAT registration number for any business you want. You can check the company’s invoices or use the HMRC’s UK VAT number checker or the VIES website if looking for businesses registered in European member states and Northern Ireland.
Q: Is a UTR the same as a VAT registration number?
Ans: UTR is not the same as a VAT registration number. A VAT number is issued for VAT-related services, while a UTR number is issued to identify companies for all tax-related purposes.
Q: Is the VAT registration number the same as the TIN?
Ans: A VAT registration number is a type of TIN assigned to businesses. A Tax ID Number (TIN) is issued to businesses for the government and agencies to track finances across borders.
Read Also:
- The Hidden Costs of Being VAT Registered: Is It Killing Your Business?
- What is the VAT threshold? – A Comprehensive Guide
- What is a VAT registration number? – A complete guide
- What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of being VAT Registered?
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Joy is a content writer at BusinAssist with 6+ years of experience in content marketing and social media strategy. She specialises in company formation and virtual operations, guiding entrepreneurs through global markets with clarity, drawing on her marketing and PR background. Business Assist with BusinAssist – your business success partner.