Guide

Look up and verify a VAT number

Search for free in the official CBE database by name or number. Use this page to check quickly whether a company is active, which number it is registered under, and what public information is already available.

Direct connection with: National Bank of Belgium Belgian Official Gazette

Direct access to CBE & Belgian Official Gazette data

Why search on Jaarrekening.be?

Official and up to date

Data directly from the CBE and National Bank.

Financial check

View credit score and annual accounts directly.

Free validation

Check if a VAT number is active.

Type a company name or VAT number in the search field above to get started

Why this tool

Whether a VAT number matches the right company name and municipality.
Which official CBE (Crossroads Bank for Enterprises) records and publications are publicly available.
Whether annual accounts, a financial profile or a file are available straight away.

Looking up a VAT number: the fastest route

Search on the number itself if you already have it. A full enterprise number or VAT number usually gives the cleanest result and avoids confusion between similar trade names.

If you only have a name or an address, you can search on those instead. That helps with supplier checks, prospecting, or when a quote does not carry a number.

1. Search by company name, VAT number, enterprise number or address.
2. Check the exact spelling, legal form and municipality.
3. Then open the company profile to review publications and financial data.

When checking a VAT number genuinely helps

A quick validation matters most for invoicing, customer onboarding, supplier screening and straightforward compliance checks. You want to know the number is still active and that the company behind it is the party you are dealing with.

For Belgian companies a single search is often enough to line up CBE identity, publications and further profile information side by side. That makes this page useful for administration, sales and financial review alike.

VAT number, enterprise number and CBE number: what is the difference?

In practice people often mean the same number, but the context differs. The enterprise number is the base identifier in the CBE. The VAT number uses that same number in a tax context, usually with the BE prefix.

So someone searching for a CBE number and someone checking a VAT number usually want the same thing: confirmation that the right company sits behind a number. That is why these lookup pages link closely to each other.

After the number check: look at publications and annual accounts

A correct number is a good start but says little about financial health. For supplier risk, credit assessment or due diligence it is worth clicking through to the annual accounts and the wider company profile.

For that, use our annual accounts lookup or the CBE Public Search for a broader public search.

Frequently asked questions

How can I look up a VAT number by name?

Finding the right VAT number is often tricky because the trade name (the name on the storefront or website) may differ from the official company name of the entity.

With our search engine, you search directly through the complete database of the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE).

Enter the company name in the search bar.
Click search and view the results list.
Select the correct entity to see the VAT number, address and status (active/ceased).

Tip: Can't find the company? Try searching for part of the name or the street name of the establishment.

Verify a VAT number: Why is this important?

Before issuing an invoice or starting a collaboration, it is crucial to verify (validate) your business partner's VAT number. A number may look correct (e.g. 10 digits), but still be invalid or cancelled.

Via Jaarrekening.be you can see the official status directly:

Active: You can safely do business.
Inactive / Ceased: Beware! This company may no longer issue invoices.
Bankruptcy: We show directly if bankruptcy proceedings are ongoing.

This check helps you avoid administrative fines and ensures you don't do business with "ghost companies".

What is the difference between an enterprise number and a VAT number?

In Belgium, these terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a small technical difference:

Enterprise number: This is the unique 10-digit identification code (e.g. 0123.456.789) that every company receives upon registration with the CBE.
VAT number: This is the enterprise number preceded by the country code "BE" (e.g. BE0123.456.789).

Not every company with an enterprise number is also VAT-liable (for example, small non-profits or liberal professions with exemption). Our tool directly indicates whether the company is subject to VAT obligations.

Free financial check for every number

When you look up a VAT number via Jaarrekening.be, you get more than just contact details. We link the data directly to the National Bank of Belgium. This way you can see at a glance:

The most recently filed annual accounts.
An indication of financial health.
The official directors and board members.

What is a VAT number?

A VAT number (Value Added Tax) in Belgium is a unique identification number assigned to businesses and self-employed individuals who are registered for VAT purposes. It is used in transactions and communications with the Belgian tax authorities. The VAT number is essential for the calculation of VAT on products and services, and for the VAT declaration.

What does a Belgian VAT number look like?

A Belgian VAT number consists of BE followed by the ten digits of the enterprise number, for example BE 0123.456.749. The enterprise number starts with 0 or, for companies registered since 2023, with 1. The last two digits are a check number. Since 1 January 2005 the VAT number is always identical to the enterprise number prefixed with BE.

What is the difference between a VAT number and an enterprise number?

The enterprise number is the unique number every business receives when it registers with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE). It appears on all official documents. The VAT number is that same number prefixed with BE, and only exists for businesses that are liable for VAT. Since 1 January 2005 the two numbers are therefore identical; no extra check digit is added. A non-profit association or an exempt professional has an enterprise number but no active VAT number.

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