VIES

What does VIES mean?

VIES stands for Vat Information Exchange System. This online search system lets you check the validity of a European VAT number by looking it up in the national databases. With an intra-Community supply, the seller is responsible for correctly applying the VAT regulations. The system was set up by the European Commission.

Where does the information in VIES come from?

When you check the VAT number of a customer in another EU country / Northern Ireland via VIES, the request goes online to the relevant national database, which verifies the VAT number. “Valid" indicates that the VAT number entered is indeed valid and shows the name and address linked to it. If no valid information is found, the status "invalid” follows. The VAT number databases are maintained by the national tax authorities. If you find that information in VIES is incorrect, report it to the company concerned so that it can ask the national tax authority for a correction.

VIES in onFact?

onFact verifies your customers' VAT numbers via VIES. You do this with the ‘Validate’ button next to the VAT number. VIES is intended to check whether a company may carry out cross-border transactions under the appropriate VAT scheme. If that is not the case, the status “invalid” follows. A check in the VIES database - so separately from onFact -  then returns 'Invalid VAT number for cross-border transactions within the EU'. This does not mean that the VAT number in question does not exist or is incorrect, but that it is not approved for such transactions.

If the VAT number exists but VIES cannot retrieve any data, you will have to complete the customer's company details in onFact manually (unless they are already in your onFact customer database, of course).