Germany USt-IdNr. validator
How the USt-IdNr. format works
- Format
- DE + 9 digits
- Example
- DE123456789
Things to watch for
- This tool checks the format only — the German check digit is not yet validated
^DE[0-9]{9}$Germany’s USt-IdNr. (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer) is the VAT identification number the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt) issues to businesses for intra-EU trade — “DE” followed by exactly 9 digits, for example DE123456789. Any German business invoicing VAT-registered customers elsewhere in the EU, or listed on a VIES cross-border transaction, needs one, and it’s a different number from their domestic Steuernummer.
That distinction trips up a lot of people: the USt-IdNr. and the Steuernummer are issued by different authorities in different formats, and using the wrong one on an invoice is one of the most common German VAT mistakes — one that’s easy to catch before submission if you know what to check.
How this validator works
This tool checks the “DE” prefix and confirms the number is exactly 9 digits, entirely client-side, with no signup and nothing sent to a server. Right now that’s a structural check, not a checksum: Germany’s official check-digit calculation on the 9th digit isn’t implemented yet, so a pass confirms the number is the right shape, not that its check digit is mathematically valid.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
Because the checksum step isn’t live, a small share of malformed numbers could still pass this format check, and — as with every country in this family — a pass never confirms the number is currently active. For that, use the BZSt’s qualified confirmation service or the EU’s VIES lookup, linked below. One more marker worth knowing: a USt-IdNr. never carries letters after “DE” and is always 9 digits — if a number has hyphens, spaces, or a different digit count, it’s likely a Steuernummer, not a USt-IdNr., and needs a different check entirely.
Scope: this page and tool cover USt-IdNr. format validation only — not VAT registration, Steuererklärung filing, or intra-EU reporting obligations, none of which a client-side format check can tell you. Use this validator to catch a typo before it reaches an invoice; use the BZSt or VIES to confirm the number is a live registration.
Content last reviewed 2026-07-07.
USt-IdNr. FAQ
What's the difference between USt-IdNr. and Steuernummer?
The USt-IdNr. (DE + 9 digits) is the EU-wide VAT ID issued by the BZSt for cross-border trade. The Steuernummer is a separate, longer domestic tax number issued by your local Finanzamt — they're not interchangeable on an EU invoice.
Does this tool check the German VAT check digit?
Not yet. It currently validates the 'DE' prefix and the 9-digit length only; full check-digit validation is a planned upgrade, so a pass confirms correct shape, not a verified checksum.
How do I confirm a USt-IdNr. is actually registered?
Request a qualified confirmation from the BZSt, or use the EU's VIES lookup — this tool only checks the number's format.
What does a valid German VAT number look like?
'DE' followed by exactly 9 digits with no letters, spaces, or hyphens — for example DE123456789.