Smartbook

Free VAT tool

VAT number format checker

Check whether a South African VAT number matches the expected 10-digit format, then verify the vendor through SARS.

Check a VAT numberSee how it works

What you get

  • Checks for exactly 10 digits
  • Confirms the required starting digit
  • Optional advisory checksum
  • Direct link to the SARS Vendor Search

From

Free

Turnaround

Instant

For

Businesses checking supplier VAT details

Enter the VAT number

Check the number format

Spaces are ignored. Letters, punctuation and other characters are not accepted.

This tool checks format only. It cannot confirm whether a vendor is registered or active.

Ready to check

Enter a number to check its length, first digit and basic numeric format.

What this check means

Right shape. Then verify the vendor.

Format is not registration

Ten digits starting with 4 is the expected pattern. It does not prove that SARS issued or activated the number.

Checksum is advisory

A Luhn-style result can be informative, but it never rejects a number or replaces the official SARS search.

Confirm with SARS

Use the official VAT Vendor Search to confirm the vendor's registration against SARS records.

Match the supplier

A number can have the right format and still belong to someone else. Check it against the supplier's legal or trading name.

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