VAT Alemão

German VAT number (USt-IdNr): format, ISO 7064 check digit and the Steuernummer trap

Germany's VAT identification number is the Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer (USt-IdNr), issued by the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt) for intra-EU trade. The format is fixed: the prefix DE followed by exactly 9 digits, e.g. DE123456789. The first digit is never zero.

The 9th digit is a check digit computed with the ISO 7064 MOD 11,10 algorithm: start with a product of 10, and for each of the first 8 digits compute (sum + digit) mod 10 (using 10 when the result is 0), multiply by 2 mod 11; the check digit is (11 − product) mod 10. It is a robust scheme that catches single-digit and most transposition errors.

USt-IdNr is NOT the Steuernummer

• USt-IdNr: the EU VAT ID (DE + 9 digits), used on cross-border invoices and validatable in VIES. One per business, nationwide.
• Steuernummer: the domestic tax number assigned by the local Finanzamt, with a region-dependent format (10–13 digits, often with slashes). It changes if you move to a different tax office's district.
• Wirtschafts-Identifikationsnummer (W-IdNr): the newer economic ID (DE + 9 digits + a 5-char suffix) being rolled out from 2024 to unify business identification — distinct from the USt-IdNr.

Common pitfalls

• Putting the Steuernummer on an EU invoice: cross-border B2B invoices require the USt-IdNr, not the local Steuernummer.
• Leading zero: a German USt-IdNr never starts with 0 — if it does, it's malformed.
• Format vs. registration: this tool confirms the structure and check digit; only VIES confirms the number is active and matches the trader's name.

FAQ

How long is a German VAT number? Always 9 digits after the DE prefix — 11 characters in total.

Where do I get a USt-IdNr? From the BZSt, free of charge, once you are registered with your local Finanzamt and request the EU VAT ID.

Can I validate the company name too? Yes — VIES returns the registered name and address for active numbers; this format checker only validates the digits.