You can use an EU web service to verify that VAT registration numbers that you enter on customer, vendor, or contact cards are valid.

When you modify the VAT Registration No. field on a card where the value in the Country/Region Code field is an EU country/region, then the new VAT registration number and your user ID are logged in the VAT Registration Log window. You verify a VAT registration number by choosing the Verify Registration No. button in the VAT Registration Log window. A new line is created every time you use the verification function. If the number could be verified, the Status field contains Valid. If the number could not be verified, the Status field contains Invalid, and you must then change the number in the VAT Registration No. field on the card and start the verification function again.

The URL of the default web service is set up in the VAT Reg. No. Validation URL field in the General Ledger Setup window.

In the VAT Registration No. Format table, you can change for each country/region the different formats of VAT registration number that users are allowed to enter in the VAT Registration No. field.

Warning
This web service uses the http protocol, which means that data transferred through the service is not encrypted.

Note
You may experience downtime for this service for which Microsoft is not responsible, as the service is part of a broad EU network of national VAT registers.

To verify a VAT registration number from a customer card

  1. In the Search box, enter Customers, and then choose the related link.

  2. Open the card of a customer where you want to verify the VAT registration number.

    Note
    The Country/Region Code field on the customer card must contain an EU country/region.

  3. On the Foreign Trade FastTab, choose the DrillDown button next to the VAT Registration No. field.

    The VAT Registration Log window opens showing one line where the Status field contains Not Verified.

  4. On the Home tab, in the Process group, choose Verify Registration No..

    A new line is created where the Status field contains either Valid or Invalid.

  5. If the Status field contains Invalid, change the number in the VAT Registration No. field on the card, and then repeat steps 3 through 4.

Tip

See Also