Frequently asked ques­ti­ons

Usage

• What is VATify.eu, what does it do and why would I need it?

  VATify.eu is a com­pany monitoring service, tracking your busi­ne­ss partners in more than 40 coun­tries of Europe.

  It verifies com­pany data of your busi­ne­ss partners and notifies you if any change is detected.

  A full status report (XLSX do­cu­ment) with all avai­la­ble data for your tracked list of com­pa­nies is avai­la­ble at any time, plus auto­ma­ti­cally it's sent once per week.

  VATify.eu will save you time, money and frustrations - no need for manual VIES checks and no more dealings with the tax office due to unrightfully deducted VAT.

• Why are tracking lists limited to the VAT ID (or some other unique identifier)? Why can't I add a com­pany to the list by its name?

  Unique identifiers (Tax number, VAT ID, registration number, ...) are needed to find one specific com­pany. Two or more com­pa­nies can have the same name, or a com­pany can change its name, but unique identifiers stay the same.

• Why are the verification results not shown in­stan­tly?

  VATify.eu is meant to monitor com­pa­nies and notify when something changes with a particular busi­ne­ss. For instant results, use VATify.eu Express.

• What is VATify.eu Express?

  VATify.eu Express returns instant results by e-mail. The data is sourced from the same sources as regular VATify.eu verification, but is sourced only once - it shows the status of a com­pany at the time of verification. If a com­pany data changes later, you won't be notified.

• Is API avai­la­ble?

  Yes, API is avai­la­ble. Currently, only basic queries are enabled: VAT validation with basic com­pany details (com­pany status, VAT status, title and address).

  Addi­ti­o­nal data will be avai­la­ble in the future.

• Why is this web page only in English and Slovene?

  VATify.eu is a software product, offered to users in different coun­tries and language groups. Using the English language by default, browsers can auto­ma­ti­cally translate the web page to user's local language. And since we are a com­pany based in Slovenia, we are obliged by law to provide content and user interaction in Slovene.

• Why is e-mail used for eve­ry­thing from user au­then­ti­ca­tion to sending results?

  VATify.eu users are diverse and come from different environments.  Some preform their daily busi­ne­ss on their phones and tablets, some use multiple computers during the day and some use it in restrictive corporate environments, where installing other programs is not permitted.

  E-mail is the most common media avai­la­ble today, with simple XLSX spread­sheets being able to pass even the strictest firewalls and anti-virus programs.  They are easy to import and incorporate in a wide variety of CRM and ERP systems, plus most computers and mobile devices can open them by default.

• Why is a change in a com­pany title/address reported, when only some dots were added?

  The VATify.eu system detected a change from the previous record, so it's reported. Usually, changes are with Italian com­pa­nies, when the abbreviation of the com­pany type is changed from SRL to S.R.L. and then back a few day later. It's caused by a change in the Italian busi­ne­ss register.

• Why is a certain com­pany listed more than once in the reports?

  Slovene sole proprietors are listed in more than one register, with the same VAT ID. Usually they are listed as a busi­ne­ss, with a busi­ne­ss name and as persons active in a commercial activity. If a person is also a lawyer, a notary or a registered farmer, than that VAT ID can also be listed in those registers.

  The problem of listings in multiple registers is visible when using VIES - it will show the first result from any register, with the com­pany title and address sometimes being different from the invoice your busi­ne­ss partner sends.

  Com­pa­nies in Bosnia and Herzegovina can have the same registration number (MBS) if they are registered in different entities (FBiH, RS, Brčko).

Understanding results

• Busi­ne­ss partner's status changed. What does this indicate?

  Status of a normally operating busi­ne­ss is "Active", other statuses indicate certain problems or exceptions. Statuses such as bankrupt, deleted, liquidated, limited busi­ne­ss operations, tax debt, ... indicate the com­pany has serious problems. It needs to be taken into consideration the reliability of such busi­ne­ss partners: their ability to pay and deliver on time, the cost of keeping their stock or their ability to deliver goods.

  Status exempt indicates the com­pany is not liable for VAT. This is a completely normal status for certain types of organizations.

  Status bankrupt indicates the com­pany is in the process of repayment of debt with its assets. The process is run by a court appointed manager and there is a possibility the com­pany will continue to do busi­ne­ss.

  If a com­pany is deleted or liquidated, it has ceased to operate and its debt will not be repayed. This com­pany can't operate in the future.

  If a busi­ne­ss is barred from operating or has tax debt, it has some sort of problems with the state. Blocked bank accounts are expected.

• Busi­ne­ss partner moved. What does this indicate?

  Changing an address is a big thing, and needs to be reported to the state.  It is very common for com­pa­nies to notify their busi­ne­ss partners multiple times before they change their address, by e-mail and regular mail. Change of address will be published on vari­ous platforms so their customers can find them. Busi­ne­sses also don't want to lose mail, have missed deliveries or ask their suppliers to fix do­cu­ments they already sent.

  If you weren't informed of a changed address, take a look where the com­pany moved. Use a search engine and check other com­pa­nies on that address, if any is listed as bankrupt, has tax debt etc, since the new address can be used to register fake com­pa­nies. If there are a lot of strange com­pa­nies registered, than your busi­ne­ss partner won't be found there. The new address is used to secure their assets from creditors, only their post box will be found.

• Busi­ne­ss partner had their bank accounts blocked. What does this indicate?

  Bank accounts are blocked by a court order or by the tax office. The com­pany can't access and move money from a blocked account, but can rece­ive it. When the debts are payed, the accounts will be unblocked.

  Blocked accounts indicate the com­pany didn't pay its debts or is doing something illegal. If accounts are blocked more than a few days, the com­pany failed to pay their debts and probably won't pay them in the future.

• Busi­ne­ss partner changed their main activity. What does this indicate?

  In some coun­tries, changing the sector the com­pany is registered to operate in is not easy. It requires addi­ti­o­nal certifications and permits, issued by the state or other local autho­ri­ty. Smaller changes in the sector are normal. If a complete change of sector happens, it could indicate change in ownership and the new owners are focusing on new markets.

Invoicing

• Why do you offer only monthly payment? Can I pay for the whole year?

  Payment is due on the 15th of every month, making it easiest and most transparent. Your sub­scrip­ti­on is valid as long as regular payments are made.

  We understand payments depend on busi­ne­ss processes in every sin­gle organization, so other payment options and due dates are po­ssi­ble, just contact us.

• Why is there a diffe­ren­ce in pricing for com­pany monitoring (VATify.eu) and Express verifications (VATify.eu Express)?

  Data re­trie­val and pro­ce­ssing for com­pany monitring happen when pro­vi­ders' systems are under less load (e.g. at night). Verifications are planned in advance, according to known check lists of VAT IDs and with planned re­qui­re­ments of computing power.

  Express verifications are instant, regardless of the time of day or system loads and demand more computing power on stand-by.

• Why are all prices without VAT?

  VAT rate in Slovenia is 22% and must be charged on all services. If you are subscribing to VATify.eu as a busi­ne­ss from Slovenia, a 22% VAT will be charged, which you will get back from the state. If you are subscribing as a foreign busi­ne­ss, VAT will not be charged. Private subscribers are charged 22% VAT on all purchases.

• Why do you charge in EURO (€) and not in USD ($)?

  We are a busi­ne­ss based in Slovenia, EU. € is a legal tender in Slovenia.

• Why do you use PayPal?

  We use PayPal for credit card pro­ce­ssing, other payment options such as bank transfer are avai­la­ble.

Other ques­ti­ons

• There seems to be a number of "vatify" sites or products around. Are all connected with VATify.eu?

  No, there is only one VATify.eu - the site you are visiting. Since 2019 there has been an increase of sites and products that use the word "VATify" or copy the VATify.eu logo or graphics. Those that offer the same func­ti­o­na­lity as VATify.eu are probably using the VATify.eu API. So just skip the middle man and get the original.

• Why isn't there a login and a user interface, where all the com­pa­nies monitored would be listed?

  First of all, we hate pass­words. The whole system is designed not to have any logins. Instead of clicking "I forgot my pass­word, send pass­word reset to my e-mail", we just skipped that step. The list of com­pa­nies you track is not something you would change every day, so most users would either use bad pass­words or keep clicking on the "Forgot pass­word" button.

  At first, it was po­ssi­ble to change the the list of com­pa­nies monitored just by sending e-mails with the Subject "ADD" and a list of VAT IDs. This function is being removed since there are too many incorrect re­quests sent.  If you want to use it, contact us.

  Secondly, maintaining a web site with all the user in­for­ma­ti­on, UI, all the lists of com­pa­nies, their history etc. costs money. To monitor one com­pany for one year with VATify.eu costs max 3.6EUR per year, using Bisnode D&B costs 50EUR per com­pany per year (prices for clients from Slovenia, January 2020). But do keep in mind, Bisnode does offer more analytical data and as such is a different product.

• All the data you are pro­ce­ssing is avai­la­ble on-line, for free. Why would I pay for your service?

  Because you don't verify com­pany data in 40+ registers every day. You should, at least in VIES, but you don't. Nobody does, since nobody has time to do it. And you don't have to, VATify.eu does it for you, and notifies you if something changes.