VIES
VAT Information Exchange System
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The EU's free online tool for verifying VAT numbers. Confirms whether a business is VAT-registered and, in Portugal's case, reveals the name and address behind the number.
VIES stands for VAT Information Exchange System. It's a free tool run by the European Commission that lets anyone verify whether a VAT number is valid. You type in a number, it checks with the national tax authority of the relevant EU country, and returns a result.
For Portuguese companies (NIPCs starting with 5), VIES is unusually useful. Unlike some EU countries that only confirm "valid" or "invalid," Portugal shares the registered name and address behind the number. Checking a company's NIPC gives you verifiable information in about 30 seconds.
For individual sole traders, the result is more limited. Most freelancers operating below the €15,000 VAT threshold (Article 53 of the CIVA) are not registered for intra-EU VAT at all, so they won't appear on VIES. A "not found" result for a personal NIF doesn't mean the person doesn't exist as a registered worker. It usually means they're operating under the VAT exemption, which is the norm for smaller freelance operations.
How it works
The VIES portal is at ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies. Select the member state, enter the number, and hit verify. The system queries the national tax database in real time and returns the result.
For Portuguese numbers, add the PT prefix. A NIF like 123456789 becomes PT123456789. A NIPC like 501234567 becomes PT501234567. The lookup works the same for both.
The VAT-exempt gap
One limitation: VIES only knows about VAT-registered businesses. In Portugal, solo entrepreneurs earning below €15,000/year can be exempt from VAT under Article 53 of the CIVA. These workers are legally registered and operating within the law, but they won't show up on VIES.
A "not found" result doesn't mean fraud. It might mean a small business operating under the VAT threshold. To verify those cases, you can ask for a fatura (invoice), any registered trabalhador independente can issue one through the Portal das Finanças, regardless of VAT status.
Country differences
Each EU member state decides how much information to share through VIES. Portugal provides name and address. Germany, citing data protection rules, confirms only whether the number is valid. Other countries fall somewhere in between.
This makes Portugal one of the more transparent countries in the system. For a registered company, a VIES check gives you enough to confirm the name on file and see where it's registered. For individual sole traders, VIES coverage is partial at best, because most operate below the VAT threshold and won't appear in the system.
You can run a VIES check right now using our free NIF business check, or read Before you hire anyone in Portugal, check their NIF for more on why this matters.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Portuguese VAT number on VIES?
Go to the European Commission's VIES portal (ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies), select Portugal as the member state, and enter the 9-digit number without the PT prefix (the system adds it). You'll get an instant valid/invalid response. If valid, Portugal provides the registered name and address.
Why does VIES say a number is invalid when the person is a real business?
They're likely VAT-exempt under Article 53 of the CIVA. Solo entrepreneurs earning below €15,000/year can operate without VAT registration. They're legally registered with the tax authority, but they won't appear on VIES. Ask them for an invoice through the Portal das Finanças instead, any registered worker can issue one.
Does VIES show the same information for all EU countries?
No. Each country decides what to share. Portugal provides the full name and registered address. Some countries (like Germany) only confirm valid/invalid status without revealing name or address, citing privacy rules. The information you get depends on which country issued the VAT number.
Can I use VIES to check non-EU businesses?
No. VIES only covers EU member states. For businesses in the UK (post-Brexit), Switzerland, Norway, or other non-EU countries, you'd need to use that country's own business registry or tax verification system.
Is there a difference between checking on VIES and checking on the Portal das Finanças?
VIES checks the EU-wide VAT database. The Portal das Finanças has its own NIF verification tool that covers all registered NIFs, including VAT-exempt ones. The Portal das Finanças tool is more comprehensive for Portuguese numbers, but it's in Portuguese and requires navigating the tax authority's website.
Related terms
Portugal's 9-digit tax identification number, required for every tax-related interaction from opening a bank account to issuing an invoice.
NIPCNúmero de Identificação de Pessoa Coletiva · Company Tax NumberPortugal's 9-digit tax identification number for companies and legal entities, the corporate equivalent of a personal NIF.
FaturaInvoiceA formal invoice issued through certified software or the AT portal. For solo entrepreneurs on the simplified regime, income tax and Social Security remain cash-basis (tied to payment) regardless of when the invoice is issued.