Ireland VAT number format
Old format: 7 digits + 1-2 letters. New format (since 2013): digit 1, then 1 letter, then 5 digits, then 1-2 letters
| VIES prefix | IE |
|---|---|
| Structure | Old format: 7 digits + 1-2 letters. New format (since 2013): digit 1, then 1 letter, then 5 digits, then 1-2 letters |
| Pattern | ^(\d{7}[A-Z*+]{1,2}|1\d[A-Z*+]\d{5}[A-Z*+]{1,2})$ |
| Company name via VIES | Yes |
| Address via VIES | Yes |
| Verified example | 6388047V — GOOGLE IRELAND LIMITED |
Check digit
The first character of the old format encodes the registration year (mod 6); not a check key. Not enforced.
Vatline does not reject on this check. Only the structure is enforced, so a format-valid number can still turn out to be unregistered. Rejecting a genuine customer costs more than one extra lookup.
Watch out for
- Two active formats coexist; validators knowing only the old 7-digit format reject all post-2013 numbers.
Check a number
Known-good value: 6388047V, which VIES returns as GOOGLE IRELAND LIMITED.