VAT number not approved

[#1]

I would like to ask why this is happpening. I've checked if my tax number here in Greece is valid and it is valid. Still my vat number is not approved. I am married and that means that my husband and I submit one tax declaration. Do I have to submit my husband's vat number instead of mine?

[#2]

Hi Antonia,

Please make sure that VAT number is in the format provided by the VIES website here. Please go to the VIES validation tool here to confirm whether you have a VAT number in the format that Upwork can validate. You should be able to submit your own VAT number.

[#3]

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@Antonia P wrote:

I would like to ask why this is happpening. I've checked if my tax number here in Greece is valid and it is valid. Still my vat number is not approved. I am married and that means that my husband and I submit one tax declaration. Do I have to submit my husband's vat number instead of mine?

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Antonia,

You're confusing your tax no. and your VAT ID. 

[#4]

Joachim, in Greece the VAT ID is the same as the Tax ID (AFM, arithmos forologikou mitroou)

Antonia, assuming you have initiated a sole-proprietorship (εναρξη επαγγελματος) with your VAT ID, you also need to be registered with VIES (ενδοκοινοτικες).
Ask your accountant if that's the case.

[#5]

John,

Thanks, learnt something new again. Here in Germany the two are kept separate.

[#6]

Hello Christos

Please make sure that the format of your VAT number is in the format provided by the VIES website. You can validate your VAT number format here.

[#7]

Hello Christos,

We have escalated your concern and one of our team members will reach out to you shortly.

[#8]

Ugh, I have the same problem. I've checked my VAT number and it's correct and should work but it doesn't. Says not approved.

[#9]

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@Marianna S wrote:

Ugh, I have the same problem. I've checked my VAT number and it's correct and should work but it doesn't. Says not approved.

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 What does it say in the VIES system?

[#10]

Hi Marianna,

Can you please check your if your VIES number matches the one listed on this website.

[#11]

Hi Goran,

It says "Yes, valid VAT number."

I removed the VAT number and added it again and now the status is "Pending approval". But probably won't start working if it didn't work earlier either?

[#12]

Hi Marianna, 

If you cleared cache and cookies it might get accepted. If your VAT is denied again let me know and one of our team members will assist you with this directly. 

[#13]

I did it and now it's "pending approval" again. Should it be accepted right away?

[#14]

Hi Marianna,

Yes that is the case not sure what is happening here. I will escalate this to our team so that we can investigate it further. One of our team members will contact you directly.

[#15]

Okay, thank you. I'll wait 

[#16]

Hi all,

I have been having the same problem. Have now tried to put IT (the country code for Italy) in front of the 11-digit number to see if that gets approved, but would really need some help. I keep getting charged VAT when I'm not supposed to (I'm totally exempted here, by the way). Also, I read I cannot claim it back with UpWork... 😞

Can I please get some help?

Ciao,

Francesco

[#17]

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@Francesco U wrote:

Hi all,

I have been having the same problem. Have now tried to put IT (the country code for Italy) in front of the 11-digit number to see if that gets approved, but would really need some help. I keep getting charged VAT when I'm not supposed to (I'm totally exempted here, by the way). Also, I read I cannot claim it back with UpWork... 😞

Can I please get some help?

Ciao,

Francesco

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 Hi Francesco,

Have you tried entering it in the VIES system: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/?locale=it

It has to verify there to be acceptable. If the VIES system doesn't confirm it, it's not valid or not yet.

[#18]

Hi Joachim and thank you,

Yes, of course I had double checked and it is valid...

[#19]

Hi Francesco,

Your most recent VAT submission is currently pending approval. If it can be validated by VIES, it will be accepted.

[#20]

Thanks, Valeria!

The number has not changed from when it was somehow rejected... I realized now I was being charged while I was not supposed to. The only different thing I have just tried now is to put IT in front of the number (despite the fact the website says I don't need that). Any clue if it will work? To my knowledge my number has always been validated by VIES and yet it got denied on UpWork...

Francesco

[#21]

One year latter and this issue is not fixed. Country code invalidates de VAT number and without country code the VAT number is not approved.

[#22]

Hi Gratian,

We'll have one of our agents reach out to you directly to assist you with your VAT submitting and approving.

Thank you for reaching out to us. 

[#23]

I know what Gratian means. I was turned down by your support on the same matter. A VAT ID always has a country code in front of the number, FE for Germany or EU for Upwork, only with Germany this can't be entered and thus is not displayed on the invoice. For Germany just the number is displayed and not the full VAT ID.