VAT Number Validation (VIES) & B2B Exemption for WooCommerce

Key Features

Real-time EU VAT number validation against the official VIES SOAP service, with graceful handling of VIES downtime and rate limits

UK (GB) VAT number validation via the HMRC VAT Checking API for post-Brexit cross-border B2B sales

Automatic B2B reverse-charge tax exemption applied via WooCommerce tax filters when the VAT number is valid and the sale qualifies

Company name and country cross-check against the official VIES/HMRC trader record to catch mismatches and fraud attempts

Configurable VAT field placement at checkout, on the My Account page, and at registration using standard WooCommerce hooks

Audit evidence stored per order: VAT number, validation result, consultation reference, and timestamp in HPOS-compatible order meta

Result caching to stay within VIES usage limits and keep checkout fast, with configurable cache TTL

wp-admin settings panel to control validation strictness, which countries trigger exemption, and home-country handling

HPOS (custom order tables) and legacy post-based order storage both supported

WPML and WordPress multisite aware for multilingual and multi-store EU operations

Optional admin notice and order flag when a number fails validation so staff can review before fulfillment

Clean uninstall routine that respects your data-retention choices for stored VAT evidence

Built to order, done for you

No DIY setup — a working app, built, installed and supported by ECOSIRE.

You order

Start with a one-time build price. We scope it with you at kickoff.

We build & install

ECOSIRE builds, configures and installs it on your WooCommerce.

Go live + support

You go live in about 2–4 weeks, with a post-launch support window.

About this Product

Selling B2B into the EU and UK means you must zero-rate cross-border sales to VAT-registered businesses under the reverse-charge mechanism — but only if you can prove the buyer's VAT number was valid at the moment of sale. WooCommerce core has no VAT-number field, no VIES lookup, and no exemption logic. Merchants typically bolt this on by hand and discover the gap during an audit.

This plugin closes that gap. ECOSIRE builds, installs, and configures it directly on your WordPress site — it is not an instant marketplace download. We tailor it to your tax classes, checkout flow, and theme, then hand over a working, supported system.

What it does on your store: - Adds a VAT number field at WooCommerce checkout and on the My Account / registration screen, placed via woocommerce_after_checkout_billing_form and related hooks so it sits naturally in your billing block. - Calls the EU VIES SOAP service in real time and the HMRC VAT API for GB numbers, returning valid/invalid status plus the registered trader name and country. - Cross-checks the company name and country the buyer entered against the official record so you catch typos and mismatches before the order completes. - When the number is valid and the sale qualifies for reverse charge, it programmatically removes VAT via woocommerce_product_get_tax_class / cart tax filters and shows the correct "VAT reverse-charged" line. - Stores the validation evidence — number, timestamp, VIES consultation reference, and result — against the order in HPOS-compatible order meta, so you have an audit trail.

Built with WP-Cron-safe API handling, caching to respect VIES rate limits, WPML/multisite awareness, and full uninstall hygiene. ECOSIRE owns the build, the install, and ongoing support.

What you get

Custom-built VAT Number Validation (VIES) & B2B Exemption plugin installed and activated on your WooCommerce site

Configuration of VIES and HMRC validation, exemption rules, and field placement matched to your tax classes and checkout

A wp-admin settings panel for ongoing control of validation and exemption behavior

Integration with your existing theme and checkout so the VAT field renders cleanly

A short handover document covering settings, the audit-evidence location, and how reverse charge is applied

Post-delivery support window for fixes, WooCommerce/WordPress compatibility, and questions

Who this is for

EU B2B WooCommerce merchant

Sells physical or digital goods to VAT-registered businesses across the EU and needs to legally zero-rate intra-community supplies while keeping proof that each VAT number was valid at the time of sale.

UK store selling cross-border post-Brexit

A GB-based or GB-selling store that must validate both EU (VIES) and UK (HMRC) VAT numbers and apply the right reverse-charge treatment now that the UK sits outside the EU VAT system.

Finance / compliance lead

Owns VAT returns and audit readiness, and wants every exempted order to carry a stored consultation reference and timestamp rather than relying on manual spreadsheet checks.

How VAT Number Validation (VIES) & B2B Exemption for WooCommerce Compares

Criterion	ECOSIRE	Custom Build	Competitor
Real-time VIES VAT number validation at checkout	Included	Included	Included
UK (HMRC) VAT number validation for post-Brexit B2B	Included	Partial support	Partial support
Automatic B2B reverse-charge exemption logic	Included	Partial support	Included
Company name + country cross-check against official record	Included	Partial support	Partial support
Stored per-order audit evidence (reference + timestamp)	Included	Partial support	Partial support
Tailored to your tax classes, theme, and checkout flow	Included	Included	Not included
Installed and configured for you on your site	Included	Included	Not included
Instant self-service download / marketplace listing	Not included	Not included	Included
Vendor-owned ongoing support and compatibility fixes	Included	Not included	Partial support

Frequently Asked Questions about VAT Number Validation (VIES) & B2B Exemption for WooCommerce

How long until the plugin is live on my store?

Because this is build-to-order, there is a short lead time rather than an instant download. Typical delivery is about 5 to 10 business days from when we have access and your tax-class details, depending on how customized your checkout, theme, and exemption rules are. We confirm a firm date with you before starting and install directly on your WordPress site.

What support and updates are included after delivery?

Each build includes a post-delivery support window for bug fixes and compatibility with the WooCommerce and WordPress versions current at handover. We address issues with VIES/HMRC API changes, checkout conflicts, and HPOS behavior. Longer-term maintenance and feature additions are available as an ongoing arrangement — we will quote that separately so you are never locked into surprise costs.

What happens when the VIES service is down or slow?

VIES has scheduled and unscheduled outages. The plugin is built to fail gracefully: it caches recent valid results, applies a configurable timeout, and can be set to either allow the order to proceed with a flag for staff review or hold exemption until validation succeeds. You choose the strictness in the wp-admin settings so checkout never silently breaks.

Does it handle UK VAT numbers as well as EU ones?

Yes. EU numbers are checked against the VIES SOAP service, and GB numbers are checked against the HMRC VAT Checking API. The plugin applies the correct reverse-charge or zero-rating logic per region, which matters for stores trading between the UK and EU after Brexit.

Is it compatible with HPOS, WPML, and multisite?

Yes. Validation evidence is written using WooCommerce's order CRUD so it works with both HPOS (custom order tables) and legacy post-based orders. The VAT field and messaging are translation-ready for WPML, and the plugin is built to run correctly on a WordPress multisite network if you operate multiple EU storefronts.

Does it guarantee my VAT compliance?

The plugin gives you accurate real-time validation, correct reverse-charge application, and stored audit evidence — the technical foundation auditors look for. It does not replace professional tax advice. Your accountant defines which transactions qualify; the plugin enforces and documents those rules on your store.