Checking your VAT number is done through a European Commission system.
This website checks VAT numbers’ validity in real time based on data from the national databases of EU member states. In other words, when you enter a number, it is immediately checked in the database of the relevant country. Unfortunately, because this system is used in all EU countries, it regularly gets overloaded.
This overload occurs mainly at peak times. Many business customers place their orders at the end of the business day, so delays are most likely to occur on business days between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Unable to check your VAT number? Then try again first. If the problem persists, we recommend placing your order at a quieter time: for example, during the weekend, early in the morning or later in the evening. At those times, the chance of overloading is a lot smaller.