# EU VAT Validator (VIES) - Bulk VAT Number Checker & KYB API (`themineworks/eu-vat-vies-validator`) Actor

Validate EU VAT numbers in bulk via the official VIES service. Returns validity, registered company name & address for all 27 states + XI. No API key, no SOAP. For finance, tax, KYB & invoicing. Works in Claude, ChatGPT & any MCP agent.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/themineworks/eu-vat-vies-validator.md
- **Developed by:** [The Mine Works](https://apify.com/themineworks) (community)
- **Categories:** Business, Developer tools, MCP servers
- **Stats:** 1 total users, 1 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$5.00 / 1,000 vat checkeds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md):

```bash
npm install apify-client
```

In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md):

```bash
pip install apify-client
```

In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md):

````bash
# MacOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash
# Windows
irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex
```bash

In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md).

If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).


# README

## EU VAT Validator (VIES) — Verify VAT Numbers in Bulk, Get Company Details

Validate **EU VAT numbers** in bulk against the official **VIES** service (VAT Information Exchange System) and get back validity plus the registered **company name and address**. Built for **finance, compliance, tax and KYB (know-your-business)** teams that need to verify counterparties, validate invoices for reverse-charge, or clean a customer master file. No API key. You only pay for definitive checks.

**Keywords:** VIES API, EU VAT validation, VAT number checker, validate VAT number, VAT lookup, KYB, tax compliance, reverse charge, EU company verification.

---

### Why this actor

Every B2B transaction inside the EU that relies on the **reverse-charge mechanism** requires a valid counterparty VAT number — and tax authorities expect you to have checked it. The official source of truth is VIES, run by the European Commission, but it's a one-at-a-time web form (or a fiddly SOAP service). This actor turns it into a clean, bulk, structured check:

- **Bulk validation** — pass a list of VAT IDs, get one clean record each.
- **Company details** — for most member states, VIES returns the registered **name and address**, not just a yes/no.
- **Honest result handling** — a definitive *valid* or *invalid* is returned and charged; when a member state's registry is temporarily down, the record is marked `unavailable` and **not charged**.
- **All 27 member states** plus Northern Ireland (`XI`). Greece is accepted as `EL` or `GR`.
- **No API key**, no SOAP, no rate-limit headaches — the actor paces requests to stay within VIES limits.

---

### What you can build with it

- **Invoice & reverse-charge compliance** — verify every EU customer's VAT number before applying zero-rated, reverse-charge invoicing.
- **KYB / onboarding** — confirm a business counterparty exists and capture its registered name and address.
- **Customer master cleanup** — batch-validate a CRM or ERP export and flag invalid or dormant VAT numbers.
- **Marketplace / platform compliance** — validate seller VAT numbers at scale.
- **Periodic re-checks** — schedule a monthly re-validation of your active EU customer base.

---

### Input

| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `vatIds` | string[] | Full EU VAT IDs **including the 2-letter country prefix** (e.g. `DE811569869`, `IE6388047V`, `FR40303265045`). Spaces and punctuation are ignored. |

#### Example input

```json
{
  "vatIds": ["IE6388047V", "FR40303265045", "DE811569869", "NL000099998B57"]
}
````

***

### Output

Each VAT number is one dataset record:

```json
{
  "vat_id": "IE6388047V",
  "country_code": "IE",
  "vat_number": "6388047V",
  "valid": true,
  "status": "valid",
  "name": "GOOGLE IRELAND LIMITED",
  "address": "3RD FLOOR, GORDON HOUSE, BARROW STREET, DUBLIN 4",
  "request_date": "2026-06-11+02:00",
  "checked_at": "2026-06-11T13:10:00.000Z"
}
```

`status` is one of `valid`, `invalid`, `unavailable` (member-state registry down — not charged), or `invalid_format` (couldn't parse — not charged). Some member states (e.g. Germany) do not return name/address; those fields come back `null`. A final `{"_type": "summary"}` record reports counts.

***

### Pricing

**Your first 25 checks are free — every Apify account, no card, no trial clock.** After that it is a flat **$0.005 per definitive check**.

- First 25 checks free per account (lifetime), then $0.005/check
- **Charged only for definitive answers** — `unavailable` (VIES down for that country) and `invalid_format` are **never charged**
- No monthly minimum, no rental
- A run validating 1,000 VAT numbers costs $5.00

***

### FAQ

**Do I need an API key?** No. VIES is a free, official European Commission service.

**Why is name/address sometimes empty?** Some member states (notably Germany) return only a valid/invalid flag, not the company details. The actor returns `null` for those fields — the validation is still authoritative.

**What does `unavailable` mean?** VIES depends on each member state's own tax registry. When one is temporarily down, VIES returns a service error — the actor records `unavailable` and does **not** charge you, since there's no definitive answer.

**Is this legally sufficient proof of validation?** VIES is the official EU validation service; many tax authorities accept a VIES check (with date) as evidence of good faith. This actor records the `request_date` returned by VIES on every check.

**Does it cover Northern Ireland?** Yes — use the `XI` prefix.

### Use in Claude, ChatGPT & any MCP agent

This actor is also a **Model Context Protocol (MCP) server tool** — call it directly from Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Windsurf, or any MCP-compatible AI agent. The agent only pays for results delivered (same pay-per-result model).

- Per-actor MCP endpoint: `https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=themineworks/eu-vat-vies-validator`
- Full Mine Works MCP server (all tools): `https://the-mine-works-mcp.hatchable.site/api/mcp`

```js
// Call this actor as a tool via apify-client (Node)
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';
const client = new ApifyClient({ token: 'YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN' });
const run = await client.actor('themineworks/eu-vat-vies-validator').call({ /* input from the table above */ });
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
console.log(items);
```

# Actor input Schema

## `vatIds` (type: `array`):

Full EU VAT IDs including the 2-letter country prefix (e.g. DE811569869, IE6388047V, FR40303265045). Spaces and punctuation are ignored.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "vatIds": [
    "DE811569869",
    "IE6388047V"
  ]
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "vatIds": [
        "DE811569869",
        "IE6388047V"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("themineworks/eu-vat-vies-validator").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "vatIds": [
        "DE811569869",
        "IE6388047V",
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("themineworks/eu-vat-vies-validator").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "vatIds": [
    "DE811569869",
    "IE6388047V"
  ]
}' |
apify call themineworks/eu-vat-vies-validator --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=themineworks/eu-vat-vies-validator",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

```json
{
    "openapi": "3.0.1",
    "info": {
        "title": "EU VAT Validator (VIES) - Bulk VAT Number Checker & KYB API",
        "description": "Validate EU VAT numbers in bulk via the official VIES service. Returns validity, registered company name & address for all 27 states + XI. No API key, no SOAP. For finance, tax, KYB & invoicing. Works in Claude, ChatGPT & any MCP agent.",
        "version": "0.1",
        "x-build-id": "zL6YAQHjI3st9oCkK"
    },
    "servers": [
        {
            "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2"
        }
    ],
    "paths": {
        "/acts/themineworks~eu-vat-vies-validator/run-sync-get-dataset-items": {
            "post": {
                "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-themineworks-eu-vat-vies-validator",
                "x-openai-isConsequential": false,
                "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.",
                "tags": [
                    "Run Actor"
                ],
                "requestBody": {
                    "required": true,
                    "content": {
                        "application/json": {
                            "schema": {
                                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                "parameters": [
                    {
                        "name": "token",
                        "in": "query",
                        "required": true,
                        "schema": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "description": "Enter your Apify token here"
                    }
                ],
                "responses": {
                    "200": {
                        "description": "OK"
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        "/acts/themineworks~eu-vat-vies-validator/runs": {
            "post": {
                "operationId": "runs-sync-themineworks-eu-vat-vies-validator",
                "x-openai-isConsequential": false,
                "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.",
                "tags": [
                    "Run Actor"
                ],
                "requestBody": {
                    "required": true,
                    "content": {
                        "application/json": {
                            "schema": {
                                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                "parameters": [
                    {
                        "name": "token",
                        "in": "query",
                        "required": true,
                        "schema": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "description": "Enter your Apify token here"
                    }
                ],
                "responses": {
                    "200": {
                        "description": "OK",
                        "content": {
                            "application/json": {
                                "schema": {
                                    "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema"
                                }
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        "/acts/themineworks~eu-vat-vies-validator/run-sync": {
            "post": {
                "operationId": "run-sync-themineworks-eu-vat-vies-validator",
                "x-openai-isConsequential": false,
                "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.",
                "tags": [
                    "Run Actor"
                ],
                "requestBody": {
                    "required": true,
                    "content": {
                        "application/json": {
                            "schema": {
                                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                "parameters": [
                    {
                        "name": "token",
                        "in": "query",
                        "required": true,
                        "schema": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "description": "Enter your Apify token here"
                    }
                ],
                "responses": {
                    "200": {
                        "description": "OK"
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    },
    "components": {
        "schemas": {
            "inputSchema": {
                "type": "object",
                "required": [
                    "vatIds"
                ],
                "properties": {
                    "vatIds": {
                        "title": "VAT numbers",
                        "type": "array",
                        "description": "Full EU VAT IDs including the 2-letter country prefix (e.g. DE811569869, IE6388047V, FR40303265045). Spaces and punctuation are ignored.",
                        "items": {
                            "type": "string"
                        }
                    }
                }
            },
            "runsResponseSchema": {
                "type": "object",
                "properties": {
                    "data": {
                        "type": "object",
                        "properties": {
                            "id": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "actId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "userId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "startedAt": {
                                "type": "string",
                                "format": "date-time",
                                "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z"
                            },
                            "finishedAt": {
                                "type": "string",
                                "format": "date-time",
                                "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z"
                            },
                            "status": {
                                "type": "string",
                                "example": "READY"
                            },
                            "meta": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "origin": {
                                        "type": "string",
                                        "example": "API"
                                    },
                                    "userAgent": {
                                        "type": "string"
                                    }
                                }
                            },
                            "stats": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "inputBodyLen": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 2000
                                    },
                                    "rebootCount": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "restartCount": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "resurrectCount": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "computeUnits": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    }
                                }
                            },
                            "options": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "build": {
                                        "type": "string",
                                        "example": "latest"
                                    },
                                    "timeoutSecs": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 300
                                    },
                                    "memoryMbytes": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 1024
                                    },
                                    "diskMbytes": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 2048
                                    }
                                }
                            },
                            "buildId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "defaultKeyValueStoreId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "defaultDatasetId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "defaultRequestQueueId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "buildNumber": {
                                "type": "string",
                                "example": "1.0.0"
                            },
                            "containerUrl": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "usage": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATASET_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATASET_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 1
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "PROXY_SERPS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    }
                                }
                            },
                            "usageTotalUsd": {
                                "type": "number",
                                "example": 0.00005
                            },
                            "usageUsd": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATASET_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATASET_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "number",
                                        "example": 0.00005
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "PROXY_SERPS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    }
                                }
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}
```