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Check a UK VAT number API

REST
Version 2.0 - beta
01 April 2026
Sandbox base URL https://test-api.service.hmrc.gov.uk
Production base URL https://api.service.hmrc.gov.uk

Overview

Warning Version 2 is the recommended version of this API. Version 1 was removed on 17 February 2025.

The Check a UK VAT Number API is for the sole purpose of allowing traders to do due diligence on VAT-registered businesses. The Check a UK VAT Number API lets your application:

  • check if a UK VAT number is registered
  • view the name and address of the related business
  • get a reference number to prove you checked the UK VAT number

This API works in two modes:

  1. Simple unverified check, which does not provide a reference number.
  2. Verified check, which provides a reference number.

About version 2

Version 2 moved the Check a UK VAT Number API behind authentication. We moved the API behind authentication so we can fully understand our users.

Version 1 was removed on 17 February 2025. You need to register to have access to Version 2.

Register for version 2

Register for the new API using HMRC’s Software Developer Hub.

Registering should take around 2 weeks. It may take longer if we need more information.

You will get production credentials once you have tested in the Sandbox environment and accepted the Terms of Use 2.0.

Errors

We use standard HTTP status codes:

  • 200 to 299 if the request succeeded. This includes code 202 if the API needs to wait for further action
  • 400 to 499 if the request failed because of a client error by your application
  • 500 to 599 if the request failed because of an error on our server

Errors specific to each API are shown in the Endpoints section, under Response. For more on errors see our HMRC Developer Hub Reference guide.

Testing

You can test this API in the sandbox environment. Use these mock VAT registration numbers.

Versioning

We release backwards-incompatible changes in a new version. There is more about versioning in the HMRC Developer Hub Reference guide.



Endpoints

Version Environments Endpoints
Version 2.0 - beta
(opens in new tab)		 Sandbox and Production 2.0 endpoints
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