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Validate Luxembourg VAT Numbers via API
When building B2B applications that serve Luxembourg (Lëtzebuerg), validating your customers' Numéro TVA / MwSt-Nummer is essential for EU VAT compliance and protecting your business from tax liability.
The TaxID API provides instant validation of Luxembourg 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.Luxembourg applies a standard VAT rate of 17% (Numéro TVA / MwSt-Nummer) and is fully supported by the VIES system.
QUICK START
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/LU/LU12345678
Code examples
Choose your language. Every example validates a Luxembourg VAT number and returns the registration status with company details.
const res = await fetch('http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/LU/LU12345678', {
headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' }
});
const data = await res.json();
// { valid: true, status: "active", company_name: "...", country_code: "LU", cached: false }
console.log(data);When to validate Luxembourg VAT numbers
B2B cross-border sales
When selling goods or services to Luxembourg businesses in other EU member states, you must verify their Numéro TVA / MwSt-Nummer 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 Luxembourg business customers, validating the Numéro TVA / MwSt-Nummer at checkout determines whether to apply 17% 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 aLuxembourg supplier's Numéro TVA / MwSt-Nummer 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 Luxembourg VAT format (Numéro TVA / MwSt-Nummer)
Luxembourg has the lowest standard VAT rate in the EU at 17%. It is a major hub for e-commerce (Amazon, PayPal, Skype) due to its historically favourable VAT treatment for digital services, though the EU's OSS scheme has since harmonised this.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country code | LU |
| Local name | Numéro TVA / MwSt-Nummer |
| Format | LU + 8 digits |
| Regex pattern | ^LU[0-9]{8}$ |
| Example | LU12345678 |
| VIES supported | Yes |
VAT rates in Luxembourg
Luxembourg applies a standard Numéro TVA / MwSt-Nummer rate of 17%. Reduced rates of 14% and 8% and 3% apply to essential goods and services.
| Rate type | Percentage | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 17% | EUR |
| Reduced rate | 14% | EUR |
| Reduced rate | 8% | EUR |
| Super-reduced | 3% | EUR |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Luxembourg VAT number format?
Luxembourg VAT numbers (Numéro TVA / MwSt-Nummer) follow the format: LU + 8 digits. A valid example is LU12345678. 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 Luxembourg 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 Luxembourg 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 Luxembourg?
The standard VAT rate in Luxembourg is 17% (Numéro TVA / MwSt-Nummer). Reduced rates of 14% and 8% and 3% 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 Luxembourg 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 Luxembourg 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 Luxembourg?
Yes. Luxembourg is fully supported by the EU VIES system and the TaxID API. VIES validates Luxembourg VAT numbers in real time against the Luxembourg national tax authority's registration database. Luxembourg has the lowest standard VAT rate in the EU at 17%. It is a major hub for e-commerce (Amazon, PayPal, Skype) due to its historically favourable VAT treatment for digital services, though the EU's OSS scheme has since harmonised this.
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