How to Verify a Tax Number in Saudi Arabia

Verifying a tax number is an important step before handling a tax invoice or confirming a business's VAT registration in Saudi Arabia, especially for companies that deal with a large number of suppliers and customers.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority provides an official electronic service that allows the public and taxpayers to verify a business's VAT registration status using its tax number or other approved information.

The verification process involves:

1. Accessing the VAT registration verification service.
2. Selecting the search type.
3. Entering the required number.
4. Accepting the terms and conditions.
5. Submitting the request.
6. Viewing the business's registration status.

What Is a Tax Number?

A tax number is a 15-digit number a business receives after registering for VAT or excise tax. It appears on invoices issued by the business and on its tax certificate.

The number identifies the business for tax purposes and can also be used to verify its VAT registration through the Authority's official service.

An illustrative example of the number's format:

3XXXXXXXXXXXXX3

The example above is for illustration only and does not represent a real tax number.

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How Is a Tax Number Verified?

You can verify a tax number electronically by following these steps:

1. Access the Registration Verification Service

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority offers a service called VAT Registration Verification, which is available to the public and taxpayers.

2. Select the Search Type

The service allows searches using one of the available options, including:

• The tax number.
• The VAT certificate number.
• The unified commercial registration number.

If you have the tax number, select the tax number option.

3. Enter the Number

Enter the number in the designated field and make sure there are no:

• Missing digits.
• Extra spaces.
• Errors when copying it from the invoice.

4. Accept the Terms and Submit the Request

After entering the information, accept the terms and conditions, then click Submit.

5. Review the Result

After performing the search, the business's VAT registration status appears on the screen.

What Information Do I Need for Verification?

You do not need to know the tax number in every case; the service offers more than one verification method.

This is useful when reviewing a new supplier or when you have the business's information but do not know its tax number directly.

What Is the Difference Between a Tax Number and Commercial Registration?

A tax number and a commercial registration number are often confused, but they are not the same thing.

Tax Number

A number associated with a business's tax registration, consisting of 15 digits according to the Authority's definition.

Commercial Registration

It consists of the business's commercial registration information and is used to identify it within commercial registration systems.

The distinction matters because the verification service allows commercial registration information to be used to search for VAT registration status, but this does not mean that the registration number itself is the tax number.

Discover: the difference between a tax invoice and an electronic invoice

Where Is the Tax Number on an Invoice?

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority's definition explains that the tax number must appear on invoices issued by the business and on its tax certificate.

Therefore, when reviewing an invoice from a supplier, it is important not to rely solely on the presence of a 15-digit number. You can use the verification service to confirm the business's registration status.

To learn about the other important information on an invoice, you can consult the guide to tax invoices in Saudi Arabia.

Why Should You Verify a Supplier's Tax Number?

Verification is more than a formality; it helps a company review supplier information before relying on it in its accounting system.

Verification is useful in situations such as:

• Dealing with a supplier for the first time.
• Receiving a new tax invoice.
• Questioning the validity of the number on an invoice.
• Reviewing supplier information before entering it into the system.
• Discovering a discrepancy between invoice information and business information.
• Reviewing the supplier database periodically.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority also indicates that examples of reportable VAT violations include using an incorrect tax number or collecting tax by an unregistered person.

What Should I Do If the Tax Number Is Incorrect?

If you enter the number and do not get the expected result, do not immediately assume that a violation has occurred.

First, check:

1. Is the number entered correctly?
2. Are all digits present?
3. Did you select the correct search type?
4. Did you copy the number from the correct tax invoice?
5. Can you search using other information, such as the VAT certificate number or the unified commercial registration number?

If the problem persists, it is advisable to request the correct registration information from the business and check it through the Authority's service.

The Authority also provides a service for reporting VAT violations. Its examples include an incorrect tax number or tax collection by an unregistered person.

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Does a Tax Number Mean the Business Is Currently Registered?

A number written on a document or invoice is not a substitute for verifying registration status.

This is why the Authority provides a separate service for verifying a business's VAT registration. The service displays the registration status after the search information is entered.

When reviewing a supplier or an important invoice, it is preferable to use the official service instead of relying solely on the number's format.

How Is the Tax Number Related to VAT?

When registering for VAT purposes, a business receives the registration information needed for its tax transactions.

The number is important for:

• Invoices.
• The tax certificate.
• Registration verification.
• Transactions between companies.
• Reviewing supplier and customer information.

For a broader understanding of the system, you can consult the guide to VAT in Saudi Arabia.

How Is the Tax Number Related to Electronic Invoicing?

The tax number and electronic invoicing are related, but they are not the same concept.

The tax number identifies the business for tax purposes.

An electronic invoice is an invoice issued and stored in a structured electronic format through an electronic system in accordance with applicable requirements.

Therefore, the software used by the business needs to maintain accurate company, customer, and supplier information so that the necessary information appears on invoices according to their types and requirements.

You can explore electronic invoicing software to learn about the relationship between invoicing and accounting systems.

How Do Companies Organize Supplier and Customer Tax Numbers?

For companies dealing with a large number of suppliers, keeping information in separate files may cause errors such as:

• Entering a supplier's number incorrectly.
• Creating duplicate supplier records.
• Using outdated information.
• Linking an invoice to the wrong supplier.
• Difficulty reviewing information as transactions increase.

It is therefore advisable to create an organized record for each supplier containing basic information, invoices, purchase transactions, and related accounts.

Approved accounting software from Aamal Digital Company helps organize supplier information, purchases, accounts, and invoices within a connected workflow, but official verification of tax registration status remains through the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority's service.

This distinction is important: the software helps store and manage information, while the Authority is the official reference for the verification service.

The Difference Between Verifying a Tax Number and Verifying an Invoice

There is a difference between the two:

Therefore, the tax number may be correct while the invoice itself contains another error, and vice versa.

Common Mistakes When Verifying a Tax Number

The main mistakes include:

• Confusing the tax number with the commercial registration number.
• Entering an incomplete number.
• Selecting the wrong search type.
• Relying on the number's format without performing official verification.
• Relying solely on an old copy of the registration certificate.
• Using an unofficial website for verification.
• Considering the tax number sufficient proof that all invoice information is correct.
• Neglecting to review supplier information in the accounting system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Tax Number?

It is a 15-digit number a business receives after registering for VAT or excise tax, and it appears on the invoice and tax certificate.

How Do I Verify a Tax Number in Saudi Arabia?

Use the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority's VAT registration verification service, select the tax number as the search type, then enter the number and submit the request.

Can Verification Be Done Without the Tax Number?

Yes. The service also allows searches using the VAT certificate number or the unified commercial registration number.

How Many Digits Does a Tax Number Have?

A tax number consists of 15 digits according to the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority's definition.

Is the Tax Number the Same as Commercial Registration?

No. Each serves a different purpose, but commercial registration information can be used as one of the search methods in the business VAT registration verification service.

What Does the Verification Service Display?

The Authority's service shows the business's VAT registration status after the required search information is entered.

What Should I Do If I Find an Incorrect Tax Number?

Check the number and information first; other search methods can also be used. If there is a genuine suspicion of a violation, the Authority provides a service for reporting VAT violations.

Conclusion

The process of verifying a tax number in Saudi Arabia is easy, but it is highly important when dealing with suppliers and tax invoices.

The process is carried out through the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority's service:

Select the search type → Enter the number → Accept the terms → Submit the request → Review the registration status.

As for the question What is a tax number? it is a 15-digit number associated with a business's tax registration that appears on invoices and the tax certificate.

For companies, it is advisable not to stop at verification alone, but to then store supplier information correctly within the accounting system and link it to purchases, invoices, and accounts.

Approved accounting software can be used to organize this workflow, while referring to the tax invoice guide for a more comprehensive understanding of the required tax information.