How to find a company's EORI number

You cannot look an EORI number up by name

HMRC's EORI checker and the European Commission's EORI validation service work in one direction: you enter a number and they tell you whether it is valid. Neither lets you type a company name and get its EORI number back, and HMRC only shows a name and address for traders who have agreed to publish them.

Finding a company's EORI number therefore means getting it from the company or from paperwork you already hold, and then checking it.

Where to find an EORI number

• Customs declarations: the importer and exporter are identified by EORI number, so past declarations, and the customs broker or freight forwarder who filed them, will have it.
• Commercial invoices and packing lists for international shipments often show the EORI numbers of the seller and the buyer.
• Your own records: supplier and customer onboarding forms, contracts and previous shipment files.
• The company itself: its finance or logistics team will know the number, which is routinely shared with carriers and trading partners.

Working it out from a VAT number, and why to check it

For many VAT-registered UK businesses the EORI number is GB, then the 9-digit VAT registration number, then 000. That gives a reasonable first guess when all you have is the VAT number.

It is only a guess. Businesses that are not VAT registered get numbers that follow a different pattern, and a VAT-registered business only has an EORI number if it registered for one. Check the number before you rely on it.

Checking the number

• GB numbers: HMRC's EORI checker for a single number, or the UK EORI checker on justaxit for a whole list at once.
• XI and EU numbers: the European Commission's EORI validation service, because they are registered in the EU's EORI system.
• A valid result with no name or address is normal: it means the trader has not agreed to publish its details.

If the number does not check out

• Look for a typo or a missing digit. GB EORI numbers usually have 12 digits after the prefix.
• Check the prefix. A Northern Ireland or EU business may have an XI or EU number rather than a GB one.
• If you built the number from a VAT number, the business may simply not have an EORI number.
• Ask the company to confirm the number in writing, and do not file a declaration with a number that has not checked out.

Keeping EORI numbers up to date

Once you have a trading partner's EORI number, store it in the customer or supplier record next to the VAT number, so it is to hand for the next shipment instead of being looked for again.

Numbers do not stay valid for ever: an EORI registration can end, for example when a business stops trading or is wound up. Re-check the EORI numbers you use regularly, say before a busy shipping season or once a year. With the UK EORI checker you can paste the whole list, save it, and re-run it in one click next time.

Frequently asked questions

Can I find an EORI number by company name?

No. HMRC's checker and the European Commission's service both check a number you enter; neither searches by name. Get the number from the company or your shipping paperwork, then check it.

Is the EORI number the same as the VAT number?

No, although for many VAT-registered UK businesses the EORI is the VAT number with GB in front and 000 at the end. It is a separate registration, so check it on its own.

Why does the checker not show the company name?

HMRC only publishes a trader's name and address with its consent. A valid result without them still means the EORI number is registered.