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Validate Spain VAT Numbers via API
When building B2B applications that serve Spain (España), validating your customers' NIF / CIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal / Código de Identificación Fiscal) is essential for EU VAT compliance and protecting your business from tax liability.
The TaxID API provides instant validation of Spain VAT numbers through the EU VIES (VAT Information Exchange System). Every request returns the registration status, company name, and registered address — with sub-100ms response times for cached results.Spain applies a standard VAT rate of 21% (NIF / CIF) and is fully supported by the VIES system.
QUICK START
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/ES/ESA12345678
Code examples
Choose your language. Every example validates a Spain VAT number and returns the registration status with company details.
const res = await fetch('http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/ES/ESA12345678', {
headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' }
});
const data = await res.json();
// { valid: true, status: "active", company_name: "...", country_code: "ES", cached: false }
console.log(data);When to validate Spain VAT numbers
B2B cross-border sales
When selling goods or services to Spain businesses in other EU member states, you must verify their NIF / CIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal / Código de Identificación Fiscal) to correctly apply zero-rate VAT under the reverse charge mechanism. Failing to validate before zero-rating a transaction makes your company liable for the full VAT amount if the customer turns out to be unregistered.
E-commerce and SaaS checkout
If your platform accepts Spain business customers, validating the NIF / CIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal / Código de Identificación Fiscal) at checkout determines whether to apply 21% VAT (B2C) or zero-rate the sale (B2B reverse charge). This directly affects your invoicing, revenue recognition, and quarterly VAT return figures.
Supplier and partner onboarding
For ERP systems, procurement platforms, and DAC7-regulated marketplaces, validating aSpain supplier's NIF / CIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal / Código de Identificación Fiscal) during onboarding prevents invalid numbers from entering your accounting system — which can cause rejected invoices and audit failures. Validate once at onboarding, then periodically re-validate to catch deregistrations.
About Spain VAT format (NIF / CIF)
Spain has three VAT identifier types: CIF for companies (letter + 7 digits + letter), NIF for individuals (8 digits + letter), and NIE for foreign nationals (X/Y/Z + 7 digits + letter). All are validated through VIES as Spanish VAT numbers.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country code | ES |
| Local name | NIF / CIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal / Código de Identificación Fiscal) |
| Format | ES + letter/digit + 7 digits + letter/digit |
| Regex pattern | ^ES[A-Z0-9][0-9]{7}[A-Z0-9]$ |
| Example | ESA12345678 |
| VIES supported | Yes |
VAT rates in Spain
Spain applies a standard NIF / CIF rate of 21%. Reduced rates of 10% and 4% apply to essential goods and services.
| Rate type | Percentage | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 21% | EUR |
| Reduced rate | 10% | EUR |
| Super-reduced | 4% | EUR |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Spain VAT number format?
Spain VAT numbers (NIF / CIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal / Código de Identificación Fiscal)) follow the format: ES + letter/digit + 7 digits + letter/digit. A valid example is ESA12345678. The TaxID API validates both the format locally and the registration status via VIES, ensuring you only accept properly registered EU businesses.
Is VAT validation mandatory for selling to Spain businesses?
EU VAT law requires that suppliers verify a customer's VAT registration before applying zero-rate treatment to intra-community B2B supplies. If you sell goods or services to a Spain business without VAT and their registration is invalid, your company may be liable for the full VAT amount plus interest and penalties. Validation is not just recommended — it is your legal due diligence obligation.
What is the standard VAT rate in Spain?
The standard VAT rate in Spain is 21% (NIF / CIF). Reduced rates of 10% and 4% apply to certain goods and services such as food, books, and medical supplies. The TaxID API's /rates endpoint returns all current rates for programmatic access.
How long does Spain VAT validation take with TaxID?
For cached results (previously validated in the last 24 hours), the TaxID API responds in under 10ms. For uncached requests, the VIES SOAP call to the Spain tax authority typically completes in 100–400ms. Active (valid) numbers are cached for 24 hours; invalid numbers are cached for 1 hour to balance performance with freshness.
Does the TaxID API support VIES for Spain?
Yes. Spain is fully supported by the EU VIES system and the TaxID API. VIES validates Spain VAT numbers in real time against the Spain national tax authority's registration database. Spain has three VAT identifier types: CIF for companies (letter + 7 digits + letter), NIF for individuals (8 digits + letter), and NIE for foreign nationals (X/Y/Z + 7 digits + letter). All are validated through VIES as Spanish VAT numbers.
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