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Validate Greece VAT Numbers via API
When building B2B applications that serve Greece (Ελλάδα), validating your customers' ΑΦΜ (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου) is essential for EU VAT compliance and protecting your business from tax liability.
The TaxID API provides instant validation of Greece 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.Greece applies a standard VAT rate of 24% (ΑΦΜ) and is fully supported by the VIES system.
QUICK START
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/EL/EL123456789
Code examples
Choose your language. Every example validates a Greece VAT number and returns the registration status with company details.
const res = await fetch('http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/EL/EL123456789', {
headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' }
});
const data = await res.json();
// { valid: true, status: "active", company_name: "...", country_code: "EL", cached: false }
console.log(data);When to validate Greece VAT numbers
B2B cross-border sales
When selling goods or services to Greece businesses in other EU member states, you must verify their ΑΦΜ (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου) 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 Greece business customers, validating the ΑΦΜ (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου) at checkout determines whether to apply 24% 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 aGreece supplier's ΑΦΜ (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου) 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 Greece VAT format (ΑΦΜ)
Greece uses the two-letter prefix EL (not GR) for VAT numbers, reflecting the Greek name Ελλάδα. The ΑΦΜ is a 9-digit number where the last digit is a check digit. Greek island regions (Lesbos, Chios, Samos, etc.) have reduced rates.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country code | EL |
| Local name | ΑΦΜ (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου) |
| Format | EL + 9 digits |
| Regex pattern | ^EL[0-9]{9}$ |
| Example | EL123456789 |
| VIES supported | Yes |
VAT rates in Greece
Greece applies a standard ΑΦΜ rate of 24%. Reduced rates of 13% and 6% apply to essential goods and services.
| Rate type | Percentage | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 24% | EUR |
| Reduced rate | 13% | EUR |
| Reduced rate | 6% | EUR |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Greece VAT number format?
Greece VAT numbers (ΑΦΜ (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου)) follow the format: EL + 9 digits. A valid example is EL123456789. 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 Greece 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 Greece 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 Greece?
The standard VAT rate in Greece is 24% (ΑΦΜ). Reduced rates of 13% and 6% 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 Greece 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 Greece 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 Greece?
Yes. Greece is fully supported by the EU VIES system and the TaxID API. VIES validates Greece VAT numbers in real time against the Greece national tax authority's registration database. Greece uses the two-letter prefix EL (not GR) for VAT numbers, reflecting the Greek name Ελλάδα. The ΑΦΜ is a 9-digit number where the last digit is a check digit. Greek island regions (Lesbos, Chios, Samos, etc.) have reduced rates.
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