---
title: "Validate a tax-ID / VAT number's format and check digit (offline, no registry lookup)"
method: GET
path: "/v1/taxid/validate"
tags: ["Reference data"]
---

# Validate a tax-ID / VAT number's format and check digit (offline, no registry lookup)

`GET /v1/taxid/validate`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://mearef.dev`
- URL: `https://mearef.dev/v1/taxid/validate`
- Auth: one of:
  - API key in header `PAYMENT-SIGNATURE`
  - API key in header `X-PAYMENT`
  - API key in header `X-API-Key`

Pure algorithmic check of a business tax identifier or VAT number for one country on this brand: valid/invalid, the normalised form, the identifier type, the check level (checksum where the authority publishes the algorithm, format otherwise) and, when invalid, why (format, structure or checksum). Every rule cites its official source and as-of date. It does NOT confirm the number is registered or active: use the official_lookup link for that. A country with no sourced rule answers free with s...

## Query parameters

- `country` string, required
- `id` string, required

## Response `200`

Validation result (status 'covered'), or status 'unknown' (free) when no sourced rule exists for the country

- object
  - `country` string
  - `status` 'covered' | 'unknown'
  - `valid` boolean, nullable
  - `normalised` string, nullable
  - `id_type` string
  - `check_level` 'checksum' | 'format'
  - `reason_code` string, nullable
  - `reason` string
  - `sources` object[]
  - `as_of` string

## Other responses

- `400`: Missing or malformed country or id (free)
- `402`: Payment required (x402)
- `404`: Country not served by this brand (free)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/mearef/apis/mearef-middle-eastern-government-reference-data.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/mearef/apis/mearef-middle-eastern-government-reference-data/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/mearef/apis/mearef-middle-eastern-government-reference-data/revisions/7b64e3502210?raw)