vatID

vatID · Recommended

Appears in

Organization

What is it?

A VAT ID (Value Added Tax identification number) is a tax registration number assigned to businesses that are registered for value-added tax in their country. It is mandatory for businesses operating within the European Union above certain revenue thresholds, and also used in the UK, Switzerland, Australia (where it is called an ABN for GST), and many other jurisdictions. The format always includes a country prefix: DE for Germany, GB for the UK, FR for France, IT for Italy, and so on. Schema.org's vatID property publishes this number in structured data.

Why this matters for AEO

VAT IDs are publicly verifiable through the European Commission's VIES (VAT Information Exchange System) database. This makes them one of the most directly confirmable business identifiers available for European entities. An AI answer engine that encounters a VAT ID can query VIES to confirm the business name, country, and registration status with no ambiguity. For B2B-focused organizations, where trading partners frequently need to verify VAT registration, having the VAT ID in structured data also provides a direct answer to common commercial queries. Google explicitly recommends this field in its Organization structured data guidelines.

What the specs say

Schema.org:vatID expects a Text value. The value-added Tax ID of the organization or person with national prefix (for example IT123456789). Can also be described as iso6523Code with proper prefix. [Source: https://schema.org/vatID]

Google: Recommended. "The VAT (Value Added Tax) code associated with your Organization." [Source: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/organization]

How to find your value

Your VAT ID is assigned by your country's tax authority when you register for VAT. Finding it:

• European Union: Check your VAT registration certificate or any VAT return filed with your national tax authority. Look for the format: two-letter country code followed by up to 12 digits or characters.
• UK: HMRC issues VAT registration numbers in the format GB followed by 9 digits (e.g., GB123456789). Find it on your VAT registration certificate (VAT4) or in your HMRC online account.
• Germany: Format is DE followed by 9 digits. Issued by your Finanzamt (tax office).
• France: Format is FR followed by 2 characters and 9 digits (e.g., FRXX123456789).
• Verification: Any EU VAT ID can be verified at https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/

Format and code

Always include the country prefix as part of the value. No spaces:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Adyen NV",
  "vatID": "NL820891850B01"
}

For a UK company:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Deliveroo plc",
  "vatID": "GB165248977"
}

Invalid formats to avoid:

{
  "vatID": "820891850B01"
}

That is missing the NL country prefix, which is required per the schema.org spec.

{
  "vatID": "NL 820891850B01"
}

Do not add spaces between the country code and the number.

Webflow implementation

Static pages

Add to your homepage or About page via Page Settings > Custom Code > Head Code:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Your Company",
  "vatID": "DE123456789"
}
</script>

CMS template pages

vatID is an organization-level field. It does not change per page or per CMS item. Set it once in the site-wide organization schema.

In Schema HQ

vatID is emitted in the Organization schema editor under the Disambiguation section. The field is a text input that accepts the full VAT ID including the country prefix. It is published as part of every organization schema block on the site.

Real examples

Adyen NV, the Dutch payments company, holds VAT ID NL820891850B01. Spotify AB holds a Swedish VAT ID beginning with SE. These are publicly registered and verifiable through VIES:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Adyen NV",
  "url": "https://www.adyen.com",
  "vatID": "NL820891850B01"
}

Related fields

• taxID
• leiCode
• iso6523Code
• duns
• companyRegistration

FAQ

Is a VAT ID the same as a tax ID?

They overlap but are not identical. A taxID covers any government tax identification number, including those for income tax, payroll tax, or general fiscal registration. A VAT ID is specifically for value-added tax registration. In some countries (e.g., Germany), the Steuernummer (tax number) and the Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer (VAT ID) are different numbers. It is valid to include both taxID and vatID in the same schema block.

What format do Australian businesses use?

Australia uses GST (Goods and Services Tax) rather than VAT, and the equivalent identifier is the ABN (Australian Business Number). Schema.org's vatID field does not specify a format for Australian GST registration numbers, but the taxID field is more appropriate for ABNs. For EU-style VAT IDs, vatID is the correct property.

Can a business have multiple VAT IDs?

Yes, businesses that are VAT-registered in multiple EU member states each have a separate country-specific VAT ID. Schema.org's vatID field accepts a single value. Use the VAT ID of the primary legal entity behind the website, and consider using iso6523Code for a more structured multi-identifier approach.