Table of Contents
Problem Description #
Customers enter valid EU VAT numbers, but the plugin returns “not valid VAT number” and fails to validate, blocking VAT exemption or causing checkout confusion.
Common symptoms
- VAT number marked invalid, even though the number is valid per official VIES lookup. One user noted manual entry of a number marked “valid” elsewhere works only when accepted manually in admin but not via validation. WPFactory+1
- Issue persists despite correct number format, correct country code, and correct plugin settings.
Cause
- Incorrect plugin configuration: validation disabled, wrong method selected (SOAP vs cURL), or VAT field format incorrect (missing country prefix, invalid characters). Support thread confirms this is the most common cause. WPFactory
- Temporary external service (VIES) downtime or unavailability — sometimes validation service is unreachable, causing false “invalid” responses. Plugin support advice reminds that VIES may be down. WPFactory+1
Solution (step‑by‑step)
- Double-check plugin validation settings: Go to WP Admin → WPFactory → EU VAT → Validation & Progress. Make sure “Validate VAT number” is set to “Yes.” WPFactory
- Ensure correct validation method: Use the recommended method (SOAP if your server supports it), or try alternative method (cURL) if SOAP fails. Many hosts disable SOAP, switching method often solves validation issues. WPFactory+1
- Enter VAT number with correct format and country prefix: e.g. FR12345678901 (no spaces, no special characters), as required by VIES. WPFactory
- Test again during off-peak times: VIES service may be down or slow, retry after some time.
- Clear cache / transients: If a caching plugin or server cache is active, clear it, because cached negative validations may persist.
- If still failing consistently: Enable debug mode (WP_DEBUG) and check error logs; note response code or message from validation server; contact plugin support with VAT number and logs for deeper analysis.
Prerequisites
- Plugin updated to latest version.
- Server supports SOAP or cURL (depending on validation method).
Additional Notes
- Encourage customers to double-check their VAT number format (country code + digits). Provide help text near VAT field (e.g. “Enter EU VAT number with country prefix (e.g. DE123456789)”).
- If your store caters to multiple EU countries, consider adding an admin-side manual VAT verification fallback (for manual orders) to avoid blocking valid customers when validation fails.
