---
title: Customize the VAT Validation Messages
description: Customize the WooCommerce VAT validation messages shoppers see while their number is checked, with placeholders and styling.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/customize-vat-validation-messages/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: How to
---

# Customize the VAT Validation Messages

The live feedback shoppers see while their VAT number is checked is fully editable in the [EU/UK VAT Manager for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/eu-vat-for-woocommerce/). All of these messages are free. Edit them at **WPFactory > EU VAT** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > EU VAT**) on the **Messages** sub-tab.

### Turn messages on

Enable **Add progress messages** (`alg_wc_eu_vat_add_progress_text`, default Yes) to show the messages during checkout.

### Message options

| Message | Option ID |
| --- | --- |
| Validating | `alg_wc_eu_vat_progress_text_validating` |
| Valid | `alg_wc_eu_vat_progress_text_valid` |
| Not valid | `alg_wc_eu_vat_progress_text_not_valid` |
| Is required | `alg_wc_eu_vat_progress_text_is_required` |
| Validation failed | `alg_wc_eu_vat_progress_text_validation_failed` |
| Wrong billing country | `alg_wc_eu_vat_wrong_billing_country` |
| Company name mismatch | `alg_wc_eu_vat_company_name_mismatch` |
| Country preserved | `alg_wc_eu_vat_progress_text_validation_preserv` |
| VIES error message | `alg_wc_eu_vat_progress_text_validation_vies_error` |

### Placeholders

Some messages accept placeholders that the plugin replaces at runtime:

| Placeholder | Replaced with | Available in |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `%eu_vat_number%` | The number the customer entered | Message on not valid |
| `%company_name%` | The company VIES has on record | Company name mismatch |
| `%vies_error%` | The VIES error code returned | VIES error message |

### Style the messages

Each message state carries a CSS class you can target, for example `wpfactory-wc-eu-vat-validating`, `wpfactory-wc-eu-vat-valid` and `wpfactory-wc-eu-vat-not-valid`. To drop the plugin's default coloring, enable **Remove validation color** (`alg_wc_eu_vat_remove_validation_color`).

### Multilingual messages

On WPML or Polylang stores, put the `[alg_wc_eu_vat_translate]` shortcode inside any message field to show language-specific text. See the [Shortcodes guide](https://wpfactory.com/docs/eu-vat-for-woocommerce/).

![Messages sub-tab with the progress message fields](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/customize-vat-validation-messages-1.png)

### Get more control

These messages are free. See everything [EU/UK VAT Manager for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/eu-vat-for-woocommerce/) offers, including Pro targeting and advanced checks. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/eu-vat-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Configuring EU VAT Validation](https://wpfactory.com/docs/configure-eu-vat-validation/)
- [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/)