Home / Validate VAT / Ireland
Validate Ireland VAT Numbers via API
When building B2B applications that serve Ireland (Éire / Ireland), validating your customers' VAT registration number is essential for EU VAT compliance and protecting your business from tax liability.
The TaxID API provides instant validation of Ireland 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.Ireland applies a standard VAT rate of 23% (VAT registration number) and is fully supported by the VIES system.
QUICK START
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/IE/IE1234567A
Code examples
Choose your language. Every example validates a Ireland VAT number and returns the registration status with company details.
const res = await fetch('http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/IE/IE1234567A', {
headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' }
});
const data = await res.json();
// { valid: true, status: "active", company_name: "...", country_code: "IE", cached: false }
console.log(data);When to validate Ireland VAT numbers
B2B cross-border sales
When selling goods or services to Ireland businesses in other EU member states, you must verify their VAT registration number 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 Ireland business customers, validating the VAT registration number at checkout determines whether to apply 23% 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 aIreland supplier's VAT registration number 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 Ireland VAT format (VAT registration number)
Irish VAT numbers have one of the most complex formats in the EU, with several valid patterns used for different entity types. Ireland is particularly important for tech companies — many major US software companies have their EU headquarters here.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country code | IE |
| Local name | VAT registration number |
| Format | IE + digit + alphanumeric + 5 digits + 1-2 letters |
| Regex pattern | ^IE[0-9][A-Z0-9+*][0-9]{5}[A-Z]{1,2}$ |
| Example | IE1234567A |
| VIES supported | Yes |
VAT rates in Ireland
Ireland applies a standard VAT registration number rate of 23%. Reduced rates of 13.5% and 9% and 4.8% apply to essential goods and services.
| Rate type | Percentage | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 23% | EUR |
| Reduced rate | 13.5% | EUR |
| Reduced rate | 9% | EUR |
| Super-reduced | 4.8% | EUR |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ireland VAT number format?
Ireland VAT numbers (VAT registration number) follow the format: IE + digit + alphanumeric + 5 digits + 1-2 letters. A valid example is IE1234567A. 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 Ireland 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 Ireland 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 Ireland?
The standard VAT rate in Ireland is 23% (VAT registration number). Reduced rates of 13.5% and 9% and 4.8% 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 Ireland 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 Ireland 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 Ireland?
Yes. Ireland is fully supported by the EU VIES system and the TaxID API. VIES validates Ireland VAT numbers in real time against the Ireland national tax authority's registration database. Irish VAT numbers have one of the most complex formats in the EU, with several valid patterns used for different entity types. Ireland is particularly important for tech companies — many major US software companies have their EU headquarters here.
Start validating Ireland VAT numbers
Free plan includes 100 validations/month. No credit card required.
Get free API keyAlso validate VAT in: