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Validate Austria VAT Numbers via API
When building B2B applications that serve Austria (Österreich), validating your customers' UID (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer) is essential for EU VAT compliance and protecting your business from tax liability.
The TaxID API provides instant validation of Austria 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.Austria applies a standard VAT rate of 20% (UID) and is fully supported by the VIES system.
QUICK START
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/AT/ATU12345678
Code examples
Choose your language. Every example validates a Austria VAT number and returns the registration status with company details.
const res = await fetch('http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/AT/ATU12345678', {
headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' }
});
const data = await res.json();
// { valid: true, status: "active", company_name: "...", country_code: "AT", cached: false }
console.log(data);When to validate Austria VAT numbers
B2B cross-border sales
When selling goods or services to Austria businesses in other EU member states, you must verify their UID (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer) 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 Austria business customers, validating the UID (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer) at checkout determines whether to apply 20% 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 aAustria supplier's UID (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer) 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 Austria VAT format (UID)
Austrian VAT numbers always start with ATU (not just AT). The U stands for Unternehmer (entrepreneur). Austria has one of the most active VIES registrations in Central Europe.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country code | AT |
| Local name | UID (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer) |
| Format | ATU + 8 digits |
| Regex pattern | ^ATU[0-9]{8}$ |
| Example | ATU12345678 |
| VIES supported | Yes |
VAT rates in Austria
Austria applies a standard UID rate of 20%. Reduced rates of 13% and 10% apply to essential goods and services.
| Rate type | Percentage | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 20% | EUR |
| Reduced rate | 13% | EUR |
| Reduced rate | 10% | EUR |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Austria VAT number format?
Austria VAT numbers (UID (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer)) follow the format: ATU + 8 digits. A valid example is ATU12345678. 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 Austria 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 Austria 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 Austria?
The standard VAT rate in Austria is 20% (UID). Reduced rates of 13% and 10% 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 Austria 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 Austria 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 Austria?
Yes. Austria is fully supported by the EU VIES system and the TaxID API. VIES validates Austria VAT numbers in real time against the Austria national tax authority's registration database. Austrian VAT numbers always start with ATU (not just AT). The U stands for Unternehmer (entrepreneur). Austria has one of the most active VIES registrations in Central Europe.
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