Looking up a VAT number
Discussion
I am trying to get some information on a company but it is proving harder than i thought!
They have no registered address or company registration number on their paperwork and there is no company (at all) registered at their trading address
I have looked up the name they use on their invoices but there is no such registered company and there is no trading as information.
All i have is a VAT number - is there any way of finding out who the VAT number is registered to?
I am trying to find out who the director/owner of the company is so i can write to them with a complaint
Anyone have any ideas?
They have no registered address or company registration number on their paperwork and there is no company (at all) registered at their trading address
I have looked up the name they use on their invoices but there is no such registered company and there is no trading as information.
All i have is a VAT number - is there any way of finding out who the VAT number is registered to?
I am trying to find out who the director/owner of the company is so i can write to them with a complaint
Anyone have any ideas?
CRA1G said:
Have you just googled the VAT number ... .... .. I'v just done it for my business and my company comes up...!
tried it with spaces, without spaces, with spaces and quotes, without spaces and quotes - nothing.Coincidently it appears that their vat number is similar to a (5 Pack) HP C4192A Compatible Cyan Toner Cartridge - that was the only results it churned up.
Pixelpeep said:
Eric Mc said:
What documentation do you have in your possession for this business?
I have a Standard Sale form and an InvoiceVAT regulations state the following -
What a VAT invoice must show
A VAT invoice must show:
an invoice number which is unique and follows on from the number of the previous invoice - if you spoil or cancel a serially numbered invoice, you must keep it to show to a VAT officer at your next VAT inspection
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
the rate of any cash discount
the total amount of VAT charged expressed in sterling
There is a tool on the HMRc site that will confirm whether the number isvalid but won't tell you to whom it belongs.
As an interesting aside, the following is worth a read:
The actual VAT number is not a random set of numbers but a formula that can be checked to see if the number is valid. If you don't have a valid number then your business can not re-claim the VAT.
For UK VAT numbers do the following exercise: Excluding the first 2 letters, list the numbers vertically and multiply each by a value starting with 8 and ending with 2. Then add up all the sums you have and deduct 97 from the sum until the answer is negative. The negative sum should be equal to the last 2 digits of the VAT number.
So for example, the VAT number for HSBC bank is GB 365684514 the calculation is:
3 x 8 = 24
6 x 7 = 42
5 x 6 = 30
6 x 5 = 30
8 x 4 = 32
4 x 3 = 12
5 x 2 = 10
The total of the above calculation is 24+42+30+30+32+12+10=180
Deduct 97 twice from this to make the result negative and the result is 180-97-97=-14 which is the same as the last two digits so the VAT number is valid.
David
As an interesting aside, the following is worth a read:
The actual VAT number is not a random set of numbers but a formula that can be checked to see if the number is valid. If you don't have a valid number then your business can not re-claim the VAT.
For UK VAT numbers do the following exercise: Excluding the first 2 letters, list the numbers vertically and multiply each by a value starting with 8 and ending with 2. Then add up all the sums you have and deduct 97 from the sum until the answer is negative. The negative sum should be equal to the last 2 digits of the VAT number.
So for example, the VAT number for HSBC bank is GB 365684514 the calculation is:
3 x 8 = 24
6 x 7 = 42
5 x 6 = 30
6 x 5 = 30
8 x 4 = 32
4 x 3 = 12
5 x 2 = 10
The total of the above calculation is 24+42+30+30+32+12+10=180
Deduct 97 twice from this to make the result negative and the result is 180-97-97=-14 which is the same as the last two digits so the VAT number is valid.
David
sumo69 said:
There is a tool on the HMRc site that will confirm whether the number isvalid but won't tell you to whom it belongs.
As an interesting aside, the following is worth a read:
The actual VAT number is not a random set of numbers but a formula that can be checked to see if the number is valid. If you don't have a valid number then your business can not re-claim the VAT.
For UK VAT numbers do the following exercise: Excluding the first 2 letters, list the numbers vertically and multiply each by a value starting with 8 and ending with 2. Then add up all the sums you have and deduct 97 from the sum until the answer is negative. The negative sum should be equal to the last 2 digits of the VAT number.
So for example, the VAT number for HSBC bank is GB 365684514 the calculation is:
3 x 8 = 24
6 x 7 = 42
5 x 6 = 30
6 x 5 = 30
8 x 4 = 32
4 x 3 = 12
5 x 2 = 10
The total of the above calculation is 24+42+30+30+32+12+10=180
Deduct 97 twice from this to make the result negative and the result is 180-97-97=-14 which is the same as the last two digits so the VAT number is valid.
David
Yeh the number is coming up as 'valid' but that could mean anything As an interesting aside, the following is worth a read:
The actual VAT number is not a random set of numbers but a formula that can be checked to see if the number is valid. If you don't have a valid number then your business can not re-claim the VAT.
For UK VAT numbers do the following exercise: Excluding the first 2 letters, list the numbers vertically and multiply each by a value starting with 8 and ending with 2. Then add up all the sums you have and deduct 97 from the sum until the answer is negative. The negative sum should be equal to the last 2 digits of the VAT number.
So for example, the VAT number for HSBC bank is GB 365684514 the calculation is:
3 x 8 = 24
6 x 7 = 42
5 x 6 = 30
6 x 5 = 30
8 x 4 = 32
4 x 3 = 12
5 x 2 = 10
The total of the above calculation is 24+42+30+30+32+12+10=180
Deduct 97 twice from this to make the result negative and the result is 180-97-97=-14 which is the same as the last two digits so the VAT number is valid.
David
The tool on HMRC site does give the name and address to whom the VAT is allocated to, I just tried it to be sure.
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/
Put in the number and it tells you name and address.
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/
Put in the number and it tells you name and address.
Kateg28 said:
The tool on HMRC site does give the name and address to whom the VAT is allocated to, I just tried it to be sure.
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/
Put in the number and it tells you name and address.
Absolutely perfect, thank you. How crap is HMRC that you can't find that information on their site.http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/
Put in the number and it tells you name and address.
I am, however, back to square one. The info registered to the VAT number is exactly the same that is on the documentation. So looks like i won't be able to track this to an actual person.
sumo69 said:
There is a tool on the HMRc site that will confirm whether the number isvalid but won't tell you to whom it belongs.
As an interesting aside, the following is worth a read:
The actual VAT number is not a random set of numbers but a formula that can be checked to see if the number is valid. If you don't have a valid number then your business can not re-claim the VAT.
For UK VAT numbers do the following exercise: Excluding the first 2 letters, list the numbers vertically and multiply each by a value starting with 8 and ending with 2. Then add up all the sums you have and deduct 97 from the sum until the answer is negative. The negative sum should be equal to the last 2 digits of the VAT number.
So for example, the VAT number for HSBC bank is GB 365684514 the calculation is:
3 x 8 = 24
6 x 7 = 42
5 x 6 = 30
6 x 5 = 30
8 x 4 = 32
4 x 3 = 12
5 x 2 = 10
The total of the above calculation is 24+42+30+30+32+12+10=180
Deduct 97 twice from this to make the result negative and the result is 180-97-97=-14 which is the same as the last two digits so the VAT number is valid.
David
That's the old way of doing it ... for new registrations it's:As an interesting aside, the following is worth a read:
The actual VAT number is not a random set of numbers but a formula that can be checked to see if the number is valid. If you don't have a valid number then your business can not re-claim the VAT.
For UK VAT numbers do the following exercise: Excluding the first 2 letters, list the numbers vertically and multiply each by a value starting with 8 and ending with 2. Then add up all the sums you have and deduct 97 from the sum until the answer is negative. The negative sum should be equal to the last 2 digits of the VAT number.
So for example, the VAT number for HSBC bank is GB 365684514 the calculation is:
3 x 8 = 24
6 x 7 = 42
5 x 6 = 30
6 x 5 = 30
8 x 4 = 32
4 x 3 = 12
5 x 2 = 10
The total of the above calculation is 24+42+30+30+32+12+10=180
Deduct 97 twice from this to make the result negative and the result is 180-97-97=-14 which is the same as the last two digits so the VAT number is valid.
David
wiki said:
The current modulus-97 series is expected to run out during 2010, so a parallel series of numbers is being introduced from November 2009 for new registrations, restarting at 100 nnnn nn and following the same format but with the last two digits derived from an alternative algorithm known as "9755". The algorithm is identical to the one for the established series except that 55 is subtracted to give the check number (modulus 97), so the check number is either 55 less than or (if this would be negative) 42 greater than the check number that a VAT number in the established series would have if it were identical in the first seven digits. The details of the 97−55 check algorithm were to be secret but are now available from HMRC on request.
HMRC were going to keep it a secret to make it harder for people to make up a fake VAT number. Then they gave up.Pixelpeep said:
Absolutely perfect, thank you. How crap is HMRC that you can't find that information on their site.
I am, however, back to square one. The info registered to the VAT number is exactly the same that is on the documentation. So looks like i won't be able to track this to an actual person.
How did you get the invoice in the first place?I am, however, back to square one. The info registered to the VAT number is exactly the same that is on the documentation. So looks like i won't be able to track this to an actual person.
What type of contact did you have with the business?
Eric Mc said:
How did you get the invoice in the first place?
What type of contact did you have with the business?
Friend bought a car from them - there is another thread going regarding it.What type of contact did you have with the business?
He put a deposit down on a car, was given a deposit receipt, which is labeled 'Standard sale form' and then when we went to collect the car he was given a 'used car invoice' - which had the vat info on it.
There has been some issues with the car and they are in breach of the sale of goods act so want to write a letter stating this fact, along with what his 'demands' are.
Eric Mc said:
Well, he seems to have enough information there to contact them again and discuss any issues he may have.
Which has been done, However the dealership is being less than helpful hence the need to send a letter stating demands. I would have prefered it if we could have had a name of the owner for the letter but the company name will have to do.Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff