VAT Number

    A unique identifier assigned to VAT-registered businesses.

    Definition

    A VAT identification number is assigned by a tax authority to every registered business. It follows a country-specific format (e.g., FR followed by 11 characters in France, DE followed by 9 digits in Germany). VAT numbers must appear on invoices and are used to verify the tax status of trading partners.

    Related Terms

    VAT Registration
    The process of obtaining a VAT identification number.
    VAT (Value Added Tax)
    A consumption tax levied at each stage of the supply chain.
    VIES
    The EU's VAT Information Exchange System for validating VAT numbers.

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