KSA VAT Number Verification: How to Verify a VAT Number in Saudi Arabia?

Accurate VAT details are essential for businesses and individuals to comply with tax regulations. Valid VAT tax number ensure the generation of correct e-invoices (a mandatory requirement), accurate VAT return filings, provision of Input Tax Credits (ITC) to buyers, and maintenance of precise government records.

Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) provides a VAT Number verification portal that allows users to verify the authenticity of a VAT number, ensuring it belongs to the correct taxpayer. The portal also enables lookups using other details.

This comprehensive guide covers a detailed step-by-step process for VAT number verification in KSA, VAT, the importance of VAT verification, methods for bulk VAT number verification, VAT tax number lookup, and the format of VAT numbers.

VAT Tax Number in KSA

A VAT number is a 15-digit unique identifier issued by ZATCA to businesses registered for Value Added Tax in Saudi Arabia. It serves as a unique tax ID, proof of VAT registration, and ensures business legitimacy to prevent tax fraud.

ZATCA VAT Registration Requirements:

• Taxpayer must reside in KSA.
• Taxable supplies exceed SAR 375,000 in the last 12 months or are expected to do so in the next 12 months.
• Businesses must register within 30 days from meeting the conditions.

Why is VAT number Verification required?

VAT number verification helps business to lookup a VAT number and get the taxpayers (company or individual) details like name. here are some key reasons to search VAT tax numbers for Verification

• Ensuring that invoices reflect accurate VAT information, preventing discrepancies.
• Compliance with e-invoicing regulations requires valid VAT numbers 
• Making sure that that input tax credits are claimed from legitimate and registered sources.
• Protecting business from fraudulent transactions and maintains tax integrity

Step-by-Step Process to Verify VAT Number in KSA

Here’s the step-by-step process explaining verifying the VAT registration number in Saudi Arabia.

Step 1: Visit the ZATCA portal and click on ‘E-Services’

Step 2: Select the ‘General Services section.

Step 3: Now, select the ‘Verification services’ under the type of activity.

Step 4: Then select the ‘VAT Taxable Person Lookup’ and click on ‘Service Login’.

Step 5: You’ll be redirected to the below window.

Step 6: Select the type of input as per availability among ‘VAT Account Number’, ‘VAT certificate Number’ and ‘Commercial registration Number’. You can also do bulk verification of the VAT numbers, which is explained in the next section.

Step 7: Input the selected number and the ‘Verification code’.

Step 8: Click on the check box to confirm the terms and conditions and click the send button to submit the details.

Step 9: The below will appear as search results:

• Search Type
• Number
• Result status
• Name
• VAT Registration status
• VAT Account Number

How to do Bulk Verification of VAT Numbers in KSA?

You need to follow the same steps till step 5 as above. After that, you need to follow below steps:

Step 6: You must enable the ‘For multiple entities verification’ button.

Step 7: Click on the ‘Download template’ and fill in the excel template with the required details.

Step 8: Click the ‘Choose file’ button to upload the template.

Step 9: Now, enter the verification code and click on the check box to confirm the term and conditions. After that, click the send button to submit the details.

Step 10: The results will be displayed on the screen as below:

1. Search Type
2. Number
3. Result status
4. Name
5. VAT Registration status
6. VAT Account Number

Also, if ‘Result Status’ is ‘No data retrieved. Please review the entered data’; there are some errors in the data you provided. Then you need to correct the errors and re-upload the excel file to verify such VAT numbers.

Step 11: You can also download the results in excel format by clicking on the ‘Download search results file’.

KSA VAT Number Lookup

At times, you may need to search for VAT number in KSA  of a taxpayer rather than verify it. Follow these steps to find a VAT number

1. Visit the ZATCA Taxpayer Verification Portal
2. Select the relevant search type from the dropdown menu: Commercial Registration (CR) Number or VAT Certificate Number
3. Input the required field
4. Click on the checkbox of terms and conditions
5. Click on search

Saudi VAT Number Format

In some cases, you can verify the authenticity of a VAT number simply by checking its format, without needing to use the ZATCA portal. Understanding the Saudi VAT number format is key to ensuring its accuracy:

• A VAT number is a 15-digit identifier issued by ZATCA.
• First Digit: Represents the GCC member country.
• Next 8 Digits: Randomly generated for the registering entity.
• 10th Digit: A check digit for validation.
• Next 3 Digits: Indicate the branches of the same entity.
• Last 2 Digits: Specify the tax type (e.g., "03" represents VAT).

Conclusion

VAT number verification is a crucial step for businesses operating in Saudi Arabia. The Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA) provides an easy-to-use online portal where VAT registration can be completed. Through the same portal, bulk VAT number verification is also available, allowing businesses to efficiently validate multiple VAT numbers at once.

Verifying VAT numbers before issuing an invoice ensures accuracy in tax reporting, avoids generating incorrect invoices, and prevents complications in financial transactions. Conversely, businesses can also look up VAT numbers using company details to confirm the authenticity of a business partner.

For businesses under e-invoicing, verifying VAT numbers is even more critical, as incorrect VAT details can lead to failed e-invoice generation and delays, risking non-compliance.