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Validate Germany VAT Numbers via API
When building B2B applications that serve Germany (Deutschland), validating your customers' USt-IdNr. (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer) is essential for EU VAT compliance and protecting your business from tax liability.
The TaxID API provides instant validation of Germany 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.Germany applies a standard VAT rate of 19% (USt-IdNr.) and is fully supported by the VIES system.
QUICK START
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/DE/DE123456789
Code examples
Choose your language. Every example validates a Germany VAT number and returns the registration status with company details.
const res = await fetch('http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/DE/DE123456789', {
headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' }
});
const data = await res.json();
// { valid: true, status: "active", company_name: "...", country_code: "DE", cached: false }
console.log(data);When to validate Germany VAT numbers
B2B cross-border sales
When selling goods or services to Germany businesses in other EU member states, you must verify their USt-IdNr. (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 Germany business customers, validating the USt-IdNr. (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer) at checkout determines whether to apply 19% 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 aGermany supplier's USt-IdNr. (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 Germany VAT format (USt-IdNr.)
Germany's USt-IdNr. is distinct from the Steuernummer (local tax number). Only the USt-IdNr. is used for EU cross-border transactions and VIES validation. German companies may take up to 4 weeks to receive their USt-IdNr. after registration.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country code | DE |
| Local name | USt-IdNr. (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer) |
| Format | DE + 9 digits |
| Regex pattern | ^DE[0-9]{9}$ |
| Example | DE123456789 |
| VIES supported | Yes |
VAT rates in Germany
Germany applies a standard USt-IdNr. rate of 19%. Reduced rates of 7% apply to essential goods and services.
| Rate type | Percentage | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 19% | EUR |
| Reduced rate | 7% | EUR |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Germany VAT number format?
Germany VAT numbers (USt-IdNr. (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer)) follow the format: DE + 9 digits. A valid example is DE123456789. 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 Germany 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 Germany 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 Germany?
The standard VAT rate in Germany is 19% (USt-IdNr.). Reduced rates of 7% 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 Germany 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 Germany 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 Germany?
Yes. Germany is fully supported by the EU VIES system and the TaxID API. VIES validates Germany VAT numbers in real time against the Germany national tax authority's registration database. Germany's USt-IdNr. is distinct from the Steuernummer (local tax number). Only the USt-IdNr. is used for EU cross-border transactions and VIES validation. German companies may take up to 4 weeks to receive their USt-IdNr. after registration.
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