VIES VAT Compliance for Shopify
Validate EU VAT IDs against VIES in your Shopify store, exempt valid cross-border B2B customers from VAT, and keep proof of every check.
The Shopify Edition is coming soon. Questions about the launch? Just email us.
The regulation
Reverse charge without a valid VAT ID is a tax risk
For intra-EU B2B supplies of goods, a valid VAT identification number of the buyer has been a substantive condition for the VAT exemption since the 2020 "quick fixes" to the VAT Directive. If the ID turns out to be invalid, the tax authority can claim the VAT from you.
Legal basis: Council Directive 2006/112/EC (VAT Directive)
Back taxes
Invoices issued without VAT to an invalid VAT ID can be reassessed — including interest.
No proof of the check
Without a record of when and how a VAT ID was validated, it is hard to show you acted in good faith.
Manual checks don't scale
Copying each VAT ID into the VIES website before shipping works for five orders a month, not fifty.
Typos and fake IDs
Wrong country prefixes, missing digits or made-up numbers slip through a simple text field.
Features
Every VAT ID checked. Every check documented.
Real-time VIES validation
VAT IDs are checked against the European Commission's VIES service while the customer enters them.
Format checks for every member state
Catches typos before calling VIES, using the number format of each EU country and Northern Ireland (XI).
Correct tax treatment
Applies the reverse charge only to valid cross-border B2B IDs — domestic B2B customers are still charged VAT.
Audit trail
Stores the result, timestamp and VIES consultation number with the order as proof of the check.
VIES downtime handling
Member-state services are sometimes unavailable. Checks are retried and flagged, instead of silently failing.
Invoice note
Adds the reverse-charge note and both VAT IDs to your invoices.
Shopify tax exemptions
Valid cross-border B2B customers are tagged and exempted using Shopify's built-in customer tax exemptions.
How it works
Compliant in 3 steps
-
1
Install from the App Store
Add the app to your Shopify store in one click.
-
2
Set your home country
Tell the app where you are registered for VAT so it can tell domestic and cross-border customers apart.
-
3
Done
VAT IDs are validated automatically and valid B2B customers are exempted.
Manual setup vs. VIES VAT Compliance
| Manual check | VIES VAT Compliance | |
|---|---|---|
| Validation at checkout | ✕ | ✓ |
| Proof of each check | Screenshots | Stored with the order |
| Format check before VIES | ✕ | ✓ |
| Retry if VIES is down | ✕ | ✓ |
| Reverse-charge invoice note | Manual | Automatic |
Plans & pricing
VIES VAT Compliance for Shopify is not available yet. Pricing will be published on Shopify App Store at launch.
Ask about the launchFrequently asked questions
For intra-EU supplies of goods, the buyer's valid VAT ID is a substantive condition for the exemption (Art. 138 VAT Directive as amended in 2020). Checking it via VIES before invoicing is the standard way to show that you took reasonable steps. Some countries, such as Germany, additionally offer a "qualified" confirmation through the national tax authority.
VIES relays requests to the member states' databases, which are occasionally offline. The plugin records the failed attempt, retries automatically and flags the order so you can decide before invoicing.
No. The reverse charge applies to cross-border B2B supplies. A business customer in your own country is charged VAT as usual, and the plugin handles that automatically.
Yes. Northern Ireland VAT numbers with the XI prefix can be validated via VIES for trade in goods.
No. The plugin automates VAT ID validation and documentation. How to treat specific transactions is a question for your tax adviser.
Also relevant for your shop
EU Guarantee Label
The harmonised EU notice on the legal guarantee — on every product page.
EU Energy Labels
Display official EU energy labels and product information sheets automatically.
CLP Hazard Labels
Hazard pictograms, signal words and H/P statements on every chemical product page.
Make your Shopify store compliant today
Validate EU VAT IDs at checkout and apply the reverse charge correctly.