Overit Finland
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Checking a Finnish company's VAT registration

A Finnish company becomes liable for VAT when the Tax Administration enters it in the VAT register. Its identifier is a VAT number (ALV-numero) in the form EE followed by the eight digits of the Business ID without its hyphen. The register entry is the only reliable way to confirm a partner really accounts for VAT.

The check runs against VIES (the VAT Information Exchange System) operated by the European Commission. It returns the current registration status across the whole EU, so a foreign supplier is verified exactly the same way.

What you can enter

  • Company ID — eight digits. We find the company in the register and check its VAT number.
  • VAT number (ALV-numero) — for example FI19274001. Checked directly in VIES.
  • Company name — we return the matches and you pick the right company.

Related

The tax debt register: what it tells you →Business ID and VAT number: the difference →Search companies by name or company ID →

Frequently asked questions

How do I check whether a company is registered for VAT?
Enter the company's company ID, VAT number or name in the search above. If the company has a VAT number, we verify it directly against the European Commission's VIES system and show the current result.
Is there a public list of VAT payers in Finland?
The Tax Administration keeps the VAT register, and the entry shows in the Business Information System. To check one specific company it is faster to enter its Business ID or VAT number — you get an answer immediately, without searching a whole list.
What is the difference between a company ID and a VAT number?
The Business ID is the identifier every company and organisation receives on registration: seven digits, a hyphen and a check digit. The VAT number is built from it by prefixing FI and dropping the hyphen. So the identifier can be derived for anyone — but it is only valid for those the Tax Administration has entered in the VAT register.
Why does a partner's VAT number matter?
If a supplier puts an invalid VAT number on an invoice, it can cause problems when deducting input VAT. Checking it in VIES is a routine part of vetting a new business partner.