Swiss UID register

Overview

Switzerland, like Norway, is outside VIES. Swiss VAT numbers are built from the enterprise identification number (UID), which follows the pattern CHE-123.456.789; the VAT number is the UID followed by MWST, TVA or IVA depending on language, and the Federal Tax Administration states that the English suffix “VAT” is not permitted^[7]. The official place to check a number is the UID register, operated by the Federal Statistical Office (BFS) from Neuchâtel^[6][7].

The register can be searched by name or by UID, with filters for address, canton, municipality and legal form^[6]. Each entry shows its VAT-register status (active, deleted or not listed) and the start and end dates of VAT liability, as well as commercial-register status^[6]. Name search and liability dates make it more informative than a valid/invalid answer.

The register provides no consultation number. The Federal Tax Administration notes that invoices may show the number in variant forms, such as without dots or without the suffix^[7], so automated tools must normalise input before searching.

Swiss UID register features

• Search by company name or UID
• VAT-register status: active, deleted, not listed
• Start and end dates of VAT liability
• Commercial-register status
• Filters by canton, municipality and legal form

Swiss UID register pricing

Free search. Registration in the UID register is also free.

Swiss UID register strengths and limitations

Appears in

• Best VAT Number Checkers and Validation Tools in 2026 #4

Swiss UID register alternatives and competitors

Alternatives to Swiss UID register: companies ranked in the same lists.

• VIVIES (VAT Information Exchange System)
• HMRC Check a UK VAT number
• Brønnøysund Register Centre (Enhetsregisteret)
• VAT Sense
• Vatstack
• MonitorPay
• LLookuptax
• Fonoa
• vatcheckapi
• Abstract API (VAT Validation & Rates)
• VVATcomply
• VATFind