Vatlayer is a simple REST-based JSON API offering instant EU VAT number validation, VAT compliant price calculations and VAT rates for all 28 current member states of the European Union. Its system is secured by HTTPS and focused on ease of use & integration, delivering all VAT data in lightweight and highly portable JSON format.

This level of compatibility, paired with startup- and developer-friendly pricing and a full stack of features makes the vatlayer API a perfect VAT rate automation and number validation tool for individuals, businesses and merchants selling and buying goods in and around the European Union.

The vatlayer API is a product built and maintained by apilayer, a technology company aiming to build a variety of reliable and essential data interfaces (APIs) and make them affordable for both startups and larger companies. apilayer GmbH is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

At vatlayer we aim to provide the highest possible level of data accuracy and response speed possible. In order to achieve this for every API request, the vatlayer API relies on multiple servers and a distinct "fallback & validation" mechanism, consisting of a fairly large number of different data sources (instances), which include the European Commission's databases. If one instance fails to deliver an accurate data response (which does not even occur in 99.9% of the cases), the next highest one is assigned with the respective request. Only this way can we provide a consistent service and API living up to our customer's expectations.

All EU VAT number validations, VAT compliant price calculations and EU VAT rates are delivered and performed in real-time. The vatlayer API's average response time is around 0.50 seconds.

Yes. You may access accurate VAT information and execute all existing functions for all 28 EU member states.

Yes. Since we understand that your API requests contain may sensitive data, we offer paid customers the possibility to access the API and all data provided by and processed through it via industry-standard 256-bit HTTPS encryption.

See the API's Documentation for details.

A country's standard rate is the VAT rate applying to the vast majority of circulating products (e.g. a VAT of 20% in the UK). However, each country defines certain types of goods falling into reduced VAT categories (e.g: In the United Kingdom, there is no VAT for medical products, and a VAT percentage of 5% for "property renovations").

See the API's Documentation for details.

Every registered user is assigned a personal Access Key, a unique "password" that can be used to access and query the vatlayer API. If you are logged in, you can find it in your Account Dashboard and in all interactive links contained in the API's Documentation.

In your Account Dashboard you can reset your Access Key at any given time.

In order to make an API Request, you are required to attach your Access Key to a valid API endpoint URL, e.g: http://apilayer.net/api/validate?access_key=YOUR_ACCESS_KEY

Pricing is based on the number of monthly API Requests offered for each individual Subscription Plan. Accessing any type of the API's EU VAT data using a valid API Access Key and one of the 4 main API endpoints counts as one "API Request".

Users will be automatically notified via e-mail and on their Account Dashboard once at least 75%, 90%, and 100% of their monthly API Request allowance has been reached. After reaching 100% of the allowance, API access will be disabled.

The vatlayer API's system status is being closely monitored around the clock. Since every effort is made to ensure the highest possible level of consistency, we are happy to announce that our API's uptime is at around 99.9%. At the current stage we are not offering any public statistics, but we will be happy to provide you with recent uptime reports - ask us »

Yes. All you have to do to validate a EU VAT number is append it to the API's validate endpoint URL as a query parameter. API results are returned in simple and easily parseable JSON format.

See the API's Documentation for details.

There are three different parameters that can be attached to the API's rate endpoint in order to define the country to obtain VAT rates for. First of all, you can specify a standard 2-letter country_code (e.g. GB). Alternatively, you may provide a custom ip_address and have our API locate the corresponding country. The third option for defining the country is appending the API's use_client_ip parameter and setting it to 1, which will cause our system to locate the client't IP address directly.

Please note that you must choose only one of the above parameters in order for your query to work.

See the API's Documentation for details.

Yes. Using the API's rate_list endpoint, you may request an entire set of EU VAT rates in a single API call. Please note that requesting this endpoint results in a significantly larger response size, which may have a negative impact on your application's performance.

See the API's Documentation for details.

Yes. Using the API's price endpoint, you may provide an amount, define a country and request the API to calculate a VAT compliant price on your behalf. You may also provide a specific type of product (according to the API's types endpoint) or, in case the amount you provided already includes a VAT percentage, perform reverse price calculations.

See the API's Documentation for details.

The Free Plan is set out to be a "trial version" without a time limit, offering a volume of 100 monthly API requests and a slightly limited set of functionalities.

Paid Subscription Plans feature significantly higher API Request volumes, ensure secure datastreams via 256-bit HTTPS Encryption, include unlimited and prioritised technical support, and offer a variety of must-have API functionalities.

In order to test the API and to get an idea of the product, you can simply sign up for the Free Plan.

As soon as you or your application requires more than 100 API requests per month and more professional API functionality, you would be well-advised to sign up for one of the paid Subscription Plans, starting at only USD 9.99 per month, or at up to 20% Discount - if you decide to pay anually.

Payments can be made via Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diner's Club). You can change your payment method at any given time in the Payment section of your Account Dashboard.

Yes. If you choose annual billing, the total price of your subscription plan will be up to 20% lower than the total amount you would pay with a monthly payment frequency.

There are two ways to change your payment frequency:

Change it manually
1. Downgrade your subscription to the Free Plan. (don't worry, your current Subscription Plan will remain active until the end of the current billing period)
2. Once the current billing period has ended, hence, once you are subscribed to the Free Plan, upgrade back to your preferred Subscription Plan - you will be asked to choose a new payment frequency.

Have us do it for you
Contact the vatlayer customer support at [email protected].

No additional fees will apply.