Terms of Service

Last updated: 2 July 2026. These terms cover the vatnode.com website and API.

1. Who we are

Vatnode ("we") operates vatnode.com, an API service that validates EU VAT numbers against official sources (VIES, the European Commission's VAT Information Exchange System) and records the resulting evidence. Operator: Oscar Ariza. Contact: oscar@vatnode.com. Vatnode is not affiliated with the European Commission or VIES.

2. The service

Vatnode provides VAT-number validation results, including — where issued by VIES — the official consultation number, company name and address, and a timestamped log of each validation performed with your API key. Results reflect what official sources return at the moment of the request; we do not alter them and cannot guarantee their correctness.

3. Service changes & availability

Features, response formats, limits, and pricing may change with reasonable notice via email. No service-level agreement applies unless separately agreed in writing. We aim for high availability, but the service depends on the upstream availability of VIES and member-state databases.

4. Your account and API keys

• API keys are personal to you or your organisation. Keep them confidential; you are responsible for requests made with your key.
• Demo or trial keys are provided for evaluation and may be rate-limited, rotated, or revoked at any time.

5. Acceptable use

• Use the API only for lawful business purposes, such as verifying counterparties' VAT numbers for invoicing, compliance, or KYB.
• No scraping-scale bulk enumeration of VAT numbers, resale of raw responses as a competing validation service, or any use that violates the fair-use policies of VIES or national registries.
• No attempts to disrupt, overload, reverse-engineer, or gain unauthorised access to the service.

6. Plans, payment, refunds

Paid plans are billed through our merchant of record, Polar, which handles payment processing, invoicing, and applicable EU VAT under its own terms. You can cancel any time; access continues to the end of the paid period. If the service materially failed to work during a billing period, contact us — we handle refund requests case by case and err on the side of the customer. See the Refund Policy for the specifics, including the 14-day money-back guarantee.

7. Data

We process the VAT numbers you submit, your requester VAT number if provided, and validation results, and retain them as your audit log. Where a VAT number identifies a natural person (e.g. a sole trader), that data is processed to fulfil the service. See our Privacy Policy for details. You may request export or deletion of your validation log at any time.

8. No tax or legal advice

Vatnode provides validation evidence, not tax advice. Whether a given transaction qualifies for zero-rating or reverse charge is your decision, made with your tax advisor. We are not liable for tax outcomes, assessments, or penalties.

9. Warranty and liability

The service is provided "as is". To the maximum extent permitted by law, our aggregate liability for any claims arising out of the service is limited to the amounts you paid us in the twelve months before the claim. We are not liable for indirect or consequential damages, or for the unavailability or content of upstream official sources.

10. Termination

You may stop using the service at any time. We may suspend or terminate access for breach of these terms, abuse, or non-payment, with notice where practicable. Sections 7–9 survive termination.

11. Changes

We may update these terms; material changes will be announced by email to active API users at least 14 days in advance. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

Questions? oscar@vatnode.com · Privacy Policy · vatnode.com