---
title: Configuring EU VAT Validation
description: "Configure real-time EU VAT number validation in WooCommerce: validation method, VAT exemption and input handling. Free."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/configure-eu-vat-validation/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: How to
tags:
  - EU VAT Manager for WooCommerce
---

# Configuring EU VAT Validation

Real-time VAT number validation is the core job of the [EU/UK VAT Manager for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/eu-vat-for-woocommerce/), and it is included in the free version. Configure it at **WPFactory > EU VAT** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > EU VAT**) on the **Validation** sub-tab.

[![EU VAT validation settings tab](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/pasted-image-0-78-1024x469.png)](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/pasted-image-0-78.png)

### Validation options

| Label | Option ID | Default | Free/Pro |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Validate | `alg_wc_eu_vat_validate` | Yes | Free |
| Validate at sign-up form | `alg_wc_eu_vat_validate_sign_up_page` | Yes | Free |
| Validate in "My account" | `alg_wc_eu_vat_validate_my_account` | No | Free |
| Message on not valid | `alg_wc_eu_vat_not_valid_message` | EU VAT Number is not valid. | Free |

The "Message on not valid" field supports the `%eu_vat_number%` placeholder.

### Validation method

Under the **Advanced** group of the Validation sub-tab, **First validation method** (`alg_wc_eu_vat_first_method`) picks which technique the plugin tries first when contacting VIES:

- **SOAP** (default): calls the VIES SOAP web service.
- **cURL**: contacts VIES over cURL.
- **Simple**: uses a basic PHP request (`file_get_contents`).

All three methods are available in the free version. This setting only chooses the first method to try: if it fails, the remaining methods are attempted automatically. Switching the method is the usual fix when a host has SOAP disabled.

### VAT exemption

**Remove VAT for validated numbers** (`alg_wc_eu_vat_disable_for_valid`, default *Yes*) is what actually exempts a validated B2B customer from VAT. It is free. For the rules that keep VAT in certain situations (different shipping country, store base country, selected countries), see [Keep VAT instead of exempting](https://wpfactory.com/docs/eu-vat-for-woocommerce/).

### Advanced input handling

- **Allow VAT number input without country code** (`alg_wc_eu_vat_allow_without_country_code`): the country is taken from the billing field.
- **Allow VAT number input with non-alphanumeric symbols** (`alg_wc_eu_vat_allow_non_alphanumeric`): tolerates spaces, dots and hyphens.
- **Skip VAT validation for selected countries** (`alg_wc_eu_vat_advanced_skip_countries`): treats numbers from listed countries as always valid.
- **Accept the VAT number if VIES is not available** (`alg_wc_eu_vat_validate_vies_not_available`): accepts the number on specific VIES outage error codes.

### Advanced checks (Pro)

Two extra checks are Pro: **Check country by IP** (`alg_wc_eu_vat_check_ip_location_country`) and **Check company name** (`alg_wc_eu_vat_check_company_name`). **Check for matching billing country code** (`alg_wc_eu_vat_check_billing_country_code`) is free.

### Get more control

Core VIES validation is free. [EU/UK VAT Manager for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/eu-vat-for-woocommerce/) Pro adds IP-based and company-name checks against VIES. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/eu-vat-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Customize the VAT Validation Messages](https://wpfactory.com/docs/customize-vat-validation-messages/)
- [EU VAT Validation Always Fails](https://wpfactory.com/docs/eu-vat-validation-fails/)
- [UK VAT Validation Fails](https://wpfactory.com/docs/uk-vat-validation-fails/)
- [VIES VAT Validation Blocked (IP_BLOCKED): Alternative VAT Validation in WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/docs/vies-ip-blocking/)
- [EU VAT Validation Options in WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/docs/streamline-eu-vat/)

 

[![EU VAT Manager for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/EU-UK-VAT-Manager-for-WooCommerce.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/eu-vat-for-woocommerce/)