Reply to: How to obtain VAT number of a company if they won't tell you.

[Scrag Meister]

They could give you a completely bogus number and you wouldn't know any different, would you? "

Example - VAT registration number shown on invoice is 223 4567 74

To verify the VAT no

Lay the formula out as follows:-

V
A
T

N
o

2 * 8= 16
2 * 7= 14
3 * 6= 18
4 * 5= 20
5 * 4= 20
6 * 3= 18
7 * 2= 14
Totals 120

Subtract 97 from the total sum until you have the last two digits of the VAT number.

120 – 97 = 23 – 97 = 74 the last two digits of the VAT number is 74.

Try it, Customs say it will work with all VAT numbers !!!!

So it does.

[neilwilkes]

Illegal or not, believe me UK HMRC do not care.
We have here a package sent from the USA, with the customs declaration & invoice (including shipping) made out to the company with an FAO to me.
Parcel Force held the package until I paid them another massive fee.
1 - Import Duty.
2 - VAT
3 - Handling Fee
The import duty I will reluctantly have to pay.
The VAT I want back though, but there is no VAT number on the invoice, and according to HMRC if the invoice is made out to a private individual they do not have to provide the VAT number. Their invoice is made out to me - they dropped the company name - and HMRC say I have to take it up with Parcel Force, who say to talk to HMRC.
Parcel Force state it is a customs VAT charge, but customs say it is most emphatically not.
What to do? It's almost £140, and I want it back. It's no use saying "it's VAT fraud", as HMRC just do not care.

Finally - after paying almost $100 in shipping, so why do Parcel Force add another £13.50 "handling charge" - almost an additional 30% of the fee I already paid!!

[nodric]

They could give you a completely bogus number and you wouldn't know any different, would you? "

Example - VAT registration number shown on invoice is 223 4567 74

To verify the VAT no

Lay the formula out as follows:-

V
A
T

N
o

2 * 8= 16
2 * 7= 14
3 * 6= 18
4 * 5= 20
5 * 4= 20
6 * 3= 18
7 * 2= 14
Totals 120

Subtract 97 from the total sum until you have the last two digits of the VAT number.

120 – 97 = 23 – 97 = 74 the last two digits of the VAT number is 74.

Try it, Customs say it will work with all VAT numbers !!!!

Very cool.

This is an easier way EU VAT Verification

On the OP question, there is no simple answer. Sometimes the VAT advice line will give this information, and sometimes not. Google has plenty of links to similar questions asked. Some folks have had luck in getting HMRC to proffer the info, many have failed.

What is clear, if you claim VAT on your return that was not paid, as they were not registered, then it's your problem. i.e. You cannot claim it. You simply paid a higher amount for the goods/services. The fact they made up VAT on the invoice is not any concern of HMRC from a refund perspective. Of course they'd love to hear about any potential fraud, but this doesn't help the OP.

Alas, it is the responsibility of the person paying the invoice to ensure it is correct before paying. Not that this helps the OP much, but clearly if the supplier is refusing to give his VAT number, then an average man would be forgiven for thinking they're up to no good

.

[Wanderer]

Bump. Did anyone ever find out a way/process for this?

The simple answer is here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/managing/...t-invoices.htm

The relevant bit is:

A VAT invoice must show:

* an invoice number which is unique and follows on from the number of the previous invoice * the seller's name or trading name, and address
* the seller's VAT registration number
* the invoice date
* the time of supply (also known as tax point) if this is different from the invoice date - see below
* the customer's name or trading name, and address
* a description sufficient to identify the goods or services supplied to the customer

Folks, if it doesn't show those things then it's NOT A VAT INVOICE so don't pay the VAT. End of story.

If your company has over paid an invoice (ie, paid VAT without a VAT invoice) then send them a recorded delivery letter demanding a VAT invoice or refund within 30 days or you will take court action. If they don't pay then don't mess about, start proceedings using http://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/

[SueEllen]

The only thing you can do is call HMRC and ask if the company is VAT registered.

You cannot ask for the company's VAT number though due to Data Protection and the fact that you may have alerted them to company they want to investigate.

[NotAllThere]

If you have a full VAT invoice, you can claim back the VAT. A VAT invoice must fulfil a number of criteria, including having a (valid?) VAT number on it. If you do not have such an invoice then, strictly, you can't claim it back. Though most of us do. And it normally isn't a problem.

Total absence of a VAT number is a bit of hint that all is not well.

What you should do then is inform HMRC what's happened. But you've lost the 17.5%

At least, that's my reading of it.

[MarillionFan]

Bump. Did anyone ever find out a way/process for this?

[johnfirst]

How to obtain VAT number of a company if they won't tell you

So nobody answered the actual question, what a pity.
I too would like to know the answer and still searching. Occasionally it can appear on their website but not often. It's easy to get a company registration number just log on to Companies House website but getting a company VAT number from the internet seems impossible. (So far anyway).

[ASB]

When I had an Ltd. in th eUK I used to send out invoices without a VAT number and they were totally legal. As the IR had not issued it in time all I had to do was state that the number had been applied for.

They were not VAT invoices though. You cannot charge vat (I assume you were not) until you have actually been registered. At this point you need to send vat only invoices for the supplies you made since application - since that is when the registration is backdated to. This is why you put "applied for" on the invoice.

If you are dealing with the public - who are generally not vat registered - then it's best to avoid ending up in this position.

[darmstadt]

When I had an Ltd. in th eUK I used to send out invoices without a VAT number and they were totally legal. As the IR had not issued it in time all I had to do was state that the number had been applied for.

[MarillionFan]

FFS Threaded. You keep banging on about how you get it. If they wont give it to you, you cant. But you seem to have got stuck here, thinking that they have a VAT Number!!! If it aint on the invoice and they've charged you VAT, but then wont give you the number, then obviously they've ripped you off and you obviously seem incapable of dealing with Government institutions or whistle blowing then its tough isnt it.

'But how does that help me' bleated Threaded.

It doesnt. Tough.

[malvolio]

Isn't oraclesmith right though? If you didn't get an invoice with a VAT number on it, then you didn't get a VAT invoice, then you are not entitled to reclaim VAT, even if you happen to find out the VAT number otherwise? Just asking.

True - so you have been overcharged by 17.5% (several times, by the sound of it)

Next question - given the company has done so, how do you propose getting it back? I suggest an invoice for the balance would probably go unpaid...

[expat]

Stop asking the same question and look at it from a different angle.
1. Is this a proper company ie legally registered in Companies House ?
2. If the answer is yes, then invest £10-20 and get their accounts. Not 100% sure if the VAT no is shown in there. Unlike Co. Ho. there isn't a central register with all Vat nos as there is with Reg nos

Isn't oraclesmith right though? If you didn't get an invoice with a VAT number on it, then you didn't get a VAT invoice, then you are not entitled to reclaim VAT, even if you happen to find out the VAT number otherwise? Just asking.

[Pondlife]

Works with mine.

[Robot]

VAT Numbers.

They could give you a completely bogus number and you wouldn't know any different, would you? "

Example - VAT registration number shown on invoice is 223 4567 74

To verify the VAT no

Lay the formula out as follows:-

V
A
T

N
o

2 * 8= 16
2 * 7= 14
3 * 6= 18
4 * 5= 20
5 * 4= 20
6 * 3= 18
7 * 2= 14
Totals 120

Subtract 97 from the total sum until you have the last two digits of the VAT number.

120 – 97 = 23 – 97 = 74 the last two digits of the VAT number is 74.

Try it, Customs say it will work with all VAT numbers !!!!