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Anyone who sells internationally knows the challenges: legal regulations, queries and documentation requirements. Checking the VAT identification number (VAT ID) in particular can be a hurdle for both retailers and customers in the checkout process of online stores. However, this does not have to be the case.
In this article, you will find out why it is so important to check VAT IDs, what risks you should avoid and how you can integrate them efficiently and automatically into your store - without detours, waiting times or manual processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are active in the B2B sector and supply companies in other EU countries, you absolutely need a VAT identification number (VAT ID no.) - this applies to you as a seller and to your business partners. In the case of so-called \u201eintra-Community deliveries and services\u201c in the EU, the VAT ID no. allows you to charge VAT free of charge, i.e. the VAT liability is transferred to the recipient of the goods (reverse charge procedure).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order for you as an online retailer to benefit from this regulation, the VAT IDs of both partners or retailers and a reference to the reverse charge procedure must be stated on the invoice and the invoice must be issued no later than 15 days after the service has been provided. Those who adhere to these requirements may invoice net. The VAT liability lies with the customer, who pays it in his country accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This regulation is a real relief for cross-border trade in Europe. It's great that tax law has been simplified in this respect within Europe, making cross-border online trade easier. You don't need to pre-finance VAT, gain financial leeway and increase the liquidity of your online store - which has a direct positive effect on your cash flow. A win-win situation - if it weren't for one small but crucial requirement: the correct verification of your customer's VAT ID number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For online retailers, this means that you are obliged to check the VAT ID number of your foreign B2B customer for every sale, document the transaction and archive the corresponding proof. Failure to check the VAT ID could result in additional tax payments and fines.
The legislator has set up several options for the review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The classic route is via the Federal Central Tax Office (http:\/\/www.bzst.dehttp:\/\/www.bzst.de<\/a>), where you can carry out checks manually. Also via the website of the European Commission, the VIES query https:\/\/europa.eu\/youreurope\/business\/taxation\/vat\/check-vat-number-vies\/index_de.htm<\/a> you can check manually. The problem therefore requires a simple, easy-to-use solution. This should be integrated directly into the checkout process of your online store so that orders can be completed directly. All relevant data is requested directly when the order is placed and not later. As interaction with customers takes place in real time, this protects you from fraud attempts and incorrect VAT calculations in the shopping cart.
As a rule, this requires a lot of time and patience, as server queries cannot be made around the clock and the servers are often overloaded or unavailable.
Conversely, this means that the verification of a foreign VAT ID number within an order and the associated deduction of VAT from the order total may not be completed in real time. Customer satisfaction suffers, sales losses could be the result and
the working time of your employees is additionally taken up by a downstream, manual check.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSmart solution: Check VAT IDs in the checkout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The qualified check automatically compares the name, company name, legal form and current company address and documents them in a legally compliant manner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your team no longer needs to laboriously correct payments that have already been made or refund them pro rata if it turns out that the validity of the VAT ID number has changed during a downstream check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n24\/7 solution: VAT-ID-check from endereco<\/h2>\n\n\n\n