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Validate Croatia VAT Numbers via API
When building B2B applications that serve Croatia (Hrvatska), validating your customers' OIB / PDV ID (Osobni identifikacijski broj / Porez na dodanu vrijednost) is essential for EU VAT compliance and protecting your business from tax liability.
The TaxID API provides instant validation of Croatia VAT numbers through the EU VIES (VAT Information Exchange System). Every request returns the registration status, company name, and registered address — with sub-100ms response times for cached results.Croatia applies a standard VAT rate of 25% (OIB / PDV ID) and is fully supported by the VIES system.
QUICK START
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/HR/HR12345678901
Code examples
Choose your language. Every example validates a Croatia VAT number and returns the registration status with company details.
const res = await fetch('http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/HR/HR12345678901', {
headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' }
});
const data = await res.json();
// { valid: true, status: "active", company_name: "...", country_code: "HR", cached: false }
console.log(data);When to validate Croatia VAT numbers
B2B cross-border sales
When selling goods or services to Croatia businesses in other EU member states, you must verify their OIB / PDV ID (Osobni identifikacijski broj / Porez na dodanu vrijednost) to correctly apply zero-rate VAT under the reverse charge mechanism. Failing to validate before zero-rating a transaction makes your company liable for the full VAT amount if the customer turns out to be unregistered.
E-commerce and SaaS checkout
If your platform accepts Croatia business customers, validating the OIB / PDV ID (Osobni identifikacijski broj / Porez na dodanu vrijednost) at checkout determines whether to apply 25% VAT (B2C) or zero-rate the sale (B2B reverse charge). This directly affects your invoicing, revenue recognition, and quarterly VAT return figures.
Supplier and partner onboarding
For ERP systems, procurement platforms, and DAC7-regulated marketplaces, validating aCroatia supplier's OIB / PDV ID (Osobni identifikacijski broj / Porez na dodanu vrijednost) during onboarding prevents invalid numbers from entering your accounting system — which can cause rejected invoices and audit failures. Validate once at onboarding, then periodically re-validate to catch deregistrations.
About Croatia VAT format (OIB / PDV ID)
Croatia joined the EU in 2013 and adopted the euro in 2023. The Croatian VAT number (PDV ID) uses the personal identification number (OIB) as its basis, which is 11 digits long with a check digit at the end.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country code | HR |
| Local name | OIB / PDV ID (Osobni identifikacijski broj / Porez na dodanu vrijednost) |
| Format | HR + 11 digits |
| Regex pattern | ^HR[0-9]{11}$ |
| Example | HR12345678901 |
| VIES supported | Yes |
VAT rates in Croatia
Croatia applies a standard OIB / PDV ID rate of 25%. Reduced rates of 13% and 5% apply to essential goods and services.
| Rate type | Percentage | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 25% | EUR |
| Reduced rate | 13% | EUR |
| Reduced rate | 5% | EUR |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Croatia VAT number format?
Croatia VAT numbers (OIB / PDV ID (Osobni identifikacijski broj / Porez na dodanu vrijednost)) follow the format: HR + 11 digits. A valid example is HR12345678901. The TaxID API validates both the format locally and the registration status via VIES, ensuring you only accept properly registered EU businesses.
Is VAT validation mandatory for selling to Croatia businesses?
EU VAT law requires that suppliers verify a customer's VAT registration before applying zero-rate treatment to intra-community B2B supplies. If you sell goods or services to a Croatia business without VAT and their registration is invalid, your company may be liable for the full VAT amount plus interest and penalties. Validation is not just recommended — it is your legal due diligence obligation.
What is the standard VAT rate in Croatia?
The standard VAT rate in Croatia is 25% (OIB / PDV ID). Reduced rates of 13% and 5% apply to certain goods and services such as food, books, and medical supplies. The TaxID API's /rates endpoint returns all current rates for programmatic access.
How long does Croatia VAT validation take with TaxID?
For cached results (previously validated in the last 24 hours), the TaxID API responds in under 10ms. For uncached requests, the VIES SOAP call to the Croatia tax authority typically completes in 100–400ms. Active (valid) numbers are cached for 24 hours; invalid numbers are cached for 1 hour to balance performance with freshness.
Does the TaxID API support VIES for Croatia?
Yes. Croatia is fully supported by the EU VIES system and the TaxID API. VIES validates Croatia VAT numbers in real time against the Croatia national tax authority's registration database. Croatia joined the EU in 2013 and adopted the euro in 2023. The Croatian VAT number (PDV ID) uses the personal identification number (OIB) as its basis, which is 11 digits long with a check digit at the end.
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