[FREE MODULE] Vat checker

[peppezic]

  On 6/19/2024 at 1:46 PM, Inform-All said:

Yes, the latest version is now 2.1.2 (as in the first post) 
And i would indeed advice you to first uninstall and then reinstall the newest version.

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Perfect, do the settings will be migrated even if I uninstall and re-install the new version?

[Inform-All]

  On 6/19/2024 at 1:49 PM, peppezic said:

Perfect, do the settings will be migrated even if I uninstall and re-install the new version?

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In the newest version you would have to select the 0% tax group. (most likely also create a 0% tax group)
So i would advice you to check the settings either way.

[Sergei.dev]

Hi, This works with goods, but the shipping costs are still taxed? v2.1.2

[Inform-All]

  On 6/26/2024 at 10:58 AM, Sergei.dev said:

Hi, This works with goods, but the shipping costs are still taxed? v2.1.2

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That is correct, currently we don't do anything with the shipping costs. It's a real big issue in Prestashop because if you have a order that contains a product with 6% and 21% tax, the shipping costs should officially be split into multiple lines and shared for each product. This is something that Prestashop can't support at the moment.

[Sergei.dev]

  On 6/26/2024 at 1:36 PM, Inform-All said:

That is correct, currently we don't do anything with the shipping costs. It's a real big issue in Prestashop because if you have a order that contains a product with 6% and 21% tax, the shipping costs should officially be split into multiple lines and shared for each product. This is something that Prestashop can't support at the moment.

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Then the old version v2.0.1 suits me better. I decided to update because the old module stopped receiving responses. After a long download, the response “EU VIES server not responding” comes. This is the situation with two sites on the same hosting "Hostinger". Another site on another hosting works fine. Since initially everything worked and then stopped, we thought about blocking and contacted VIES support, where we received an answer that neither our IP nor our domains were on the blacklist. 

[Sergei.dev]

Any ideas why I get the error EU VIES server not responding? Previously, everything worked properly and we are not blocked from the Vies side.

[Inform-All]

  On 7/1/2024 at 2:08 PM, Sergei.dev said:

Any ideas why I get the error EU VIES server not responding? Previously, everything worked properly and we are not blocked from the Vies side.

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Could be a couple of things:

Sometimes the VIES database is offline, and be aware this could be partially offline. Meaning it could be offline for checking the VAT number of only one specific country, while other countries are still available for checking.

Your hosting could block outgoing calls to the VIES database.

You and your customers made to many calls in a short period of time.

Your SOAP PHP extension is not installed/active.
 

[Sergei.dev]

  On 6/26/2024 at 1:36 PM, Inform-All said:

That is correct, currently we don't do anything with the shipping costs. It's a real big issue in Prestashop because if you have a order that contains a product with 6% and 21% tax, the shipping costs should officially be split into multiple lines and shared for each product. This is something that Prestashop can't support at the moment.

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What if I don’t have tax division? I have one tax of 22% for everyone, and for those who have VAT in Europe it should be 0% for the entire cart and delivery. In the previous version it worked for you.

[peppezic]

  On 6/26/2024 at 1:36 PM, Inform-All said:

That is correct, currently we don't do anything with the shipping costs. It's a real big issue in Prestashop because if you have a order that contains a product with 6% and 21% tax, the shipping costs should officially be split into multiple lines and shared for each product. This is something that Prestashop can't support at the moment.

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I don't understand why on v2.0.4 (which I successfully run on my live env) the module could exclude VAT both on goods and shipping but with 2.1.2 doesn't.
It's such a pity...the new 2.1.2 version is much better because it handles the customer default group and tax rule...

[Inform-All]

  On 7/2/2024 at 4:03 PM, peppezic said:

I don't understand why on v2.0.4 (which I successfully run on my live env) the module could exclude VAT both on goods and shipping but with 2.1.2 doesn't.
It's such a pity...the new 2.1.2 version is much better because it handles the customer default group and tax rule...

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You can still exclude VAT from shipping. You would just have to make a carrier that has 0% VAT.

[Sergei.dev]

  On 6/19/2024 at 1:44 PM, peppezic said:

Great to know. So latest version is 2.1.2 as in the first post?
Last question: do we need to uninstall the old version (in my case 2.0.4) before installing the new one?

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I have v2.0.1, and in this version there is a bug with offline validation. After your message, I thought maybe this would be fixed in other versions. The developer has version 2.1.1 on Github. It works like my old version (in the new module I did not add a separate group) Try it, I think this is what we were looking for. The first test showed a positive result, I will check again. Let our know if it helps you.

[peppezic]

  On 7/3/2024 at 11:15 AM, Sergei.dev said:

.. It works like my old version (in the new module I did not add a separate group) Try it, I think this is what we were looking for. The first test showed a positive result, I will check again. Let our know if it helps you.

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You mean the 2.1.1 version of the module keeps excluding the VAT from shipping if the customer is valid?

[Claudiocool]

Would it then not be possible to downgrade to 2.11? The tax on shipping, which is 0% anyway because the goods are also 0%, should be left as it is. 

Edit: Solved! there can be set the shipping fees to the same tax as the goods, this works fine!

 

Furthermore, it would be good if the check is only made when you complete the address entry, if the country is further down, then everything except DE.... problems, because Germany is preset

Edited July 15, 2024 by Claudiocool (see edit history)

[malo6]

Hello,

Is it possible to automatically update cart totals on checkout page after processing vies check?

[Inform-All]

  On 7/19/2024 at 10:53 AM, malo6 said:

Hello,

Is it possible to automatically update cart totals on checkout page after processing vies check?

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This updates the cart totals already. If not you should check your template if it blocking it somehow.
(and of course make sure your VAT settings and number are valid)

[VitaliKo2021]

Hello,

Please help.

After payment  a call back to the site is made and after that an invoice is generated with all the taxes according to the selected country. 

The customer pays with VAT0 correctly, but prestashop generates an invoice with taxes. What could be the problem?

 

[Inform-All]

  On 10/15/2024 at 12:49 PM, VitaliKo2021 said:

Hello,

Please help.

After payment  a call back to the site is made and after that an invoice is generated with all the taxes according to the selected country. 

The customer pays with VAT0 correctly, but prestashop generates an invoice with taxes. What could be the problem?

 

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What module version are you using? You might need to manually override the pdf template.

[Bolsemack]

Hello! I’m not sure if this can be done with this module or not, but I have a question. I’ve tested it, and when I enter a VAT number that isn’t in VIES, I get an error, and it marks it as required (even though I have it set as optional). I’ve tried entering a VAT number from my own country (and from others) that isn’t in VIES, and it doesn’t allow me to complete the purchase. Wouldn’t it make more sense for it to simply apply the corresponding VAT if the number isn’t in VIES, notifying the user about it? Is this possible?

[Inform-All]

  On 11/20/2024 at 1:03 PM, Bolsemack said:

Hello! I’m not sure if this can be done with this module or not, but I have a question. I’ve tested it, and when I enter a VAT number that isn’t in VIES, I get an error, and it marks it as required (even though I have it set as optional). I’ve tried entering a VAT number from my own country (and from others) that isn’t in VIES, and it doesn’t allow me to complete the purchase. Wouldn’t it make more sense for it to simply apply the corresponding VAT if the number isn’t in VIES, notifying the user about it? Is this possible?

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Hi,
In the module there is an option "Validation required" this only means that IF the customer fills in a vat number it NEEDS to be validated in the VIES database.
If your customers VAT field can be completly empty is a Prestashop setting that you can set for each country separately (international > Locations > Countries).

[Bolsemack]

  On 11/20/2024 at 1:12 PM, Inform-All said:

In the module there is an option "Validation required"

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Yes, I’ve seen the option in the screenshots, but it doesn’t show up for me... PS 1.7.8.8

[trazze]

Hello, I try to setup VAT Checker plugin, with a VAT rule for country at 0% but my setup don't works... May someone help me?

 

 

[IgorB]

Hi, any chance to fix tax rule for shipping costs ? 0% VAT applies to products but not to shipping costs. 

[Inform-All]

  On 12/23/2024 at 12:44 PM, IgorB said:

Hi, any chance to fix tax rule for shipping costs ? 0% VAT applies to products but not to shipping costs. 

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Hi IgorB,

Currently it's not an option in the module (yet) but in the near future it might be.
I could advise you to make an shipper with 0% tax for the time being.

[Inform-All]

  On 12/17/2024 at 11:46 AM, trazze said:

Hello, I try to setup VAT Checker plugin, with a VAT rule for country at 0% but my setup don't works... May someone help me?

 

 

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Please elaborate, what is not working? I can't really help you if i don't know what is happening.

[Sand74500]

Hello,

On my local test shop, your module work perfectly (Prestashop 8.1.5) but on my production shop (8.2) it don't work.

VAT number is validated, customer group is assigned, but products prices are still with VAT although I created a 0% tax rule.

I wonder if it is because of the version of Prestashop, or if I may looking for a php setting.

[pbelmontealonso]

  On 7/28/2022 at 1:39 PM, Inform-All said:

This module is all you need for intra-Community supply orders.
The module does the following:

• Automatically checks an VAT number for delivery address
• Checks if it's a valid VAT number on the official VIES database
• Gives 0% tax if a VAT is verified
• Properly adds the 0% tax on the invoice
• Allows you to disable 0% for specific products 

 

In the settings of the module you fill in your companies Origin Country. Because you can't ship with 0% tax in the same country your company is based.
Every order is checked for their shipping address, NOT the invoice address.

Since the VIES database has some reoccurring offline time, there is an option in how to handle this.
 

Prestashop 1.7 & 8

Download:  vatchecker.zip 73.83 kB · 132 downloads

Got any ideas or updates? 
Feel free to commit on GIT.

Latest minor version release: 2.1.2

Like my work? Consider donating here.

 

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I"I installed the module, but it doesn't seem to check anything. With my account set to my country, Spain, I changed the shipping address to Portugal, and it changed the tax to 0%. When I switch back to another address in Spain, it applies 21% again. Can you help me?

[Inform-All]

  On 2/25/2025 at 4:21 PM, pbelmontealonso said:

I"I installed the module, but it doesn't seem to check anything. With my account set to my country, Spain, I changed the shipping address to Portugal, and it changed the tax to 0%. When I switch back to another address in Spain, it applies 21% again. Can you help me?

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This is correct according to the EU law, you can only have 0% tax when you actually ship it abroad. So this works as intended.

[Inform-All]

  On 2/24/2025 at 3:33 PM, Sand74500 said:

Hello,

On my local test shop, your module work perfectly (Prestashop 8.1.5) but on my production shop (8.2) it don't work.

VAT number is validated, customer group is assigned, but products prices are still with VAT although I created a 0% tax rule.

I wonder if it is because of the version of Prestashop, or if I may looking for a php setting.

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Can you check with your hosting company if you are allowed to make external SOAP calls? And maybe check if your IP is not blacklisted for the VIES database.

[Sand74500]

I'm not sure the VIES validation is the problem, because customers go to the assigned group I choose. VAT validation is ok, but the VAT is still charged on my production shop. On my local test shop (with a lot of restrictions and IP filter) it work as itended.

The difference between the 2 shops is Prestashop version, and PHP / mysql version. So I wonder if this is not the Prestashop version the problem, 8.2 ?

[Sand74500]

Solved, : it was the Prestashop cache. Thank you for your extension, and for your help.

[pbelmontealonso]

  On 2/26/2025 at 12:59 PM, Inform-All said:

This is correct according to the EU law, you can only have 0% tax when you actually ship it abroad. So this works as intended.

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This is correct if my VAT Number is ok in VIES page, but my VAT number is not validated in VIES, so if we change the address must not change mi VAT tax. That's the EU law, isn't it?

[Inform-All]

  On 2/27/2025 at 4:09 PM, pbelmontealonso said:

This is correct if my VAT Number is ok in VIES page, but my VAT number is not validated in VIES, so if we change the address must not change mi VAT tax. That's the EU law, isn't it?

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The module checks every single time you select an (shipping) address if this address is allowed/valid for 0% tax.
Simply because if you have a customer that has multiple addresses in multiple countries, you are not allowed to send with 0% tax if the currently selected shipping address is in the same country as you are shipping from. So this means even though a different shipping address is a valid 0% tax address, this does not mean every order can be 0% tax. If you don't think this is correct, please provide me some (official) documentation about the matter so i can read into it.

[pbelmontealonso]

  On 2/28/2025 at 10:53 AM, Inform-All said:

The module checks every single time you select an (shipping) address if this address is allowed/valid for 0% tax.
Simply because if you have a customer that has multiple addresses in multiple countries, you are not allowed to send with 0% tax if the currently selected shipping address is in the same country as you are shipping from. So this means even though a different shipping address is a valid 0% tax address, this does not mean every order can be 0% tax. If you don't think this is correct, please provide me some (official) documentation about the matter so i can read into it.

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All you say is correct, just while the VAT Number of a customer is validated by VIES webpage. But if the cutomer has a VAT number NOT validated by VIES your VAT tax cannot be 0%. https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/#/faq 

[Inform-All]

  On 2/28/2025 at 12:56 PM, pbelmontealonso said:

All you say is correct, just while the VAT Number of a customer is validated by VIES webpage. But if the cutomer has a VAT number NOT validated by VIES your VAT tax cannot be 0%. https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/#/faq 

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That is correct, it should not put customers in the 0% tax if the tax number is not validated.
Can you check you module settings, especially the "Offline validation". And also check if you can validate a number for the same country, because the VIES database can be offline (not functioning properly)  for a specific country.

[Inform-All]

Just updated the fist post with the newest version of the VAT checker module.

3.1.1

With this new version you can:

Force company name validation
The module now allows you to also validate the company name with the VIES database.
(Note: Not all countries provide this information)

Apply your tax rule to carriers
An extra setting that will also set carrier tax for valid VAT customers.

[riderlol]

Hi friend, I wanted to ask you a question... Is it possible to base taxes on the billing address instead of the shipping address? Best regards.

[pbelmontealonso]

  On 3/11/2025 at 4:09 PM, riderlol said:

Hi friend, I wanted to ask you a question... Is it possible to base taxes on the billing address instead of the shipping address? Best regards.

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With this module, no. In fact, VAT exemption has nothing to do with the billing or shipping address; it depends on the VAT number. If the VAT number is validated as active on https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/#/vat-validation, it is exempt from VAT. If not, it applies the VAT of the country of origin.

[pbelmontealonso]

  On 3/11/2025 at 3:37 PM, Inform-All said:

Just updated the fist post with the newest version of the VAT checker module.

3.1.1

With this new version you can:

Force company name validation
The module now allows you to also validate the company name with the VIES database.
(Note: Not all countries provide this information)

Apply your tax rule to carriers
An extra setting that will also set carrier tax for valid VAT customers.

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Thanks, I am testing it, and I think is working correctly.

[Isla01]

Works well, but I have been using this vat checker which is been working for me fine.

[Ashley Nurse]

should I uninstall the older version?

[Inform-All]

  On 3/11/2025 at 4:09 PM, riderlol said:

Hi friend, I wanted to ask you a question... Is it possible to base taxes on the billing address instead of the shipping address? Best regards.

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As far as my knowledge goes it would make no sense, and it would not make it a valid intra community supply. Meaning you can only set tax to 0% if you actually ship to a country abroad. So we would have to check if the shipping is actually abroad. Please provide official (and english) documentation if you do not agree, then i can have a look.

[gs2k]

Hello,

I'll join the conversation.

It should look exactly like this.

VAT 0% applies according to the billing address, provided that the shipping country is also in the EU.

It will be easier with a specific example.

The seller's country is Poland (my country).

Option 1
The customer orders from France. The invoice and delivery address are French.

Here it does not matter which address we take into account. Everything is OK.

Option 2
A rare case, but I have had it a few times myself (checked, tax offices fully accept it).

The customer has a company registered in France and provides the VAT number FR111111111 for the invoice (the module uses 0% VAT based on the billing address) - everything is OK.

The customer provides an address to Italy as the shipping address (he lives there). He has every right to do so.

To sum up. VAT is calculated based on the billing address, and the delivery country address must be one of the European Union countries and does not have to be the country where the company is registered. Of course, it cannot be the seller's country.

I hope everything is clear now :)

Best regards
gs2k

[riderlol]

  On 3/12/2025 at 10:35 AM, gs2k said:

Hello,

I'll join the conversation.

It should look exactly like this.

VAT 0% applies according to the billing address, provided that the shipping country is also in the EU.

It will be easier with a specific example.

The seller's country is Poland (my country).

Option 1
The customer orders from France. The invoice and delivery address are French.

Here it does not matter which address we take into account. Everything is OK.

Option 2
A rare case, but I have had it a few times myself (checked, tax offices fully accept it).

The customer has a company registered in France and provides the VAT number FR111111111 for the invoice (the module uses 0% VAT based on the billing address) - everything is OK.

The customer provides an address to Italy as the shipping address (he lives there). He has every right to do so.

To sum up. VAT is calculated based on the billing address, and the delivery country address must be one of the European Union countries and does not have to be the country where the company is registered. Of course, it cannot be the seller's country.

I hope everything is clear now

Best regards
gs2k

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Exactly, that's why it is necessary to be able to choose that the master address for calculating VAT is the billing address. 

[riderlol]

  On 3/12/2025 at 10:11 AM, Inform-All said:

As far as my knowledge goes it would make no sense, and it would not make it a valid intra community supply. Meaning you can only set tax to 0% if you actually ship to a country abroad. So we would have to check if the shipping is actually abroad. Please provide official (and english) documentation if you do not agree, then i can have a look.

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User GS2k has explained exactly the case, I think it is essential that the module complies with this to be truly operational.

[gs2k]

  On 3/12/2025 at 11:20 AM, riderlol said:

Exactly, that's why it is necessary to be able to choose that the master address for calculating VAT is the billing address. 

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Now from what I know you need to change in Prestashop International > Taxes > Tax Options > Option Based on, change to billing address (attachment). Now the Module should use the billing address for VAT.

The second thing is to set it so that the Prestashop checkout does not allow adding a shipping address other than the ones given in the examples above.

If you are using OPC The Checkout, I think the module developer will configure this for you using custom code (I don't know about other OPCs).

Edited March 12 by gs2k (see edit history)

[Inform-All]

  On 3/12/2025 at 10:35 AM, gs2k said:

Hello,

I'll join the conversation.

It should look exactly like this.

VAT 0% applies according to the billing address, provided that the shipping country is also in the EU.

It will be easier with a specific example.

The seller's country is Poland (my country).

Option 1
The customer orders from France. The invoice and delivery address are French.

Here it does not matter which address we take into account. Everything is OK.

Option 2
A rare case, but I have had it a few times myself (checked, tax offices fully accept it).

The customer has a company registered in France and provides the VAT number FR111111111 for the invoice (the module uses 0% VAT based on the billing address) - everything is OK.

The customer provides an address to Italy as the shipping address (he lives there). He has every right to do so.

To sum up. VAT is calculated based on the billing address, and the delivery country address must be one of the European Union countries and does not have to be the country where the company is registered. Of course, it cannot be the seller's country.

I hope everything is clear now

Best regards
gs2k

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I understand your use case, and yes as you describe option 2 is 100% valid.
But if the customer also fills in his/her VAT info on the Italian (shipping) address they will still have 0% tax, so the module will still function properly.

The big reason why i wouldn't want this, is because of this scenario:
Country of origin: Poland.
If a customer has a billing address with validated vat in France they can order with 0% tax.
If the customer now creates a new shipping address that is in Poland, they would still have 0% and that is in no way allowed.

[Inform-All]

  On 3/12/2025 at 6:47 AM, Ashley Nurse said:

should I uninstall the older version?

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For this module it is not necessary, but still a good practice to first uninstall and delete the previous module version folder.
So, either way is fine.

[riderlol]

  On 3/12/2025 at 12:47 PM, Inform-All said:

Entiendo tu caso práctico y sí, como describes, la opción 2 es totalmente válida.
Sin embargo, si el cliente también completa su información de IVA en la dirección de envío italiana, seguirá teniendo un 0% de impuestos, por lo que el módulo seguirá funcionando correctamente.

La principal razón por la que no querría esto es por este escenario:
País de origen: Polonia.
Si un cliente tiene una dirección de facturación con IVA validado en Francia, puede realizar pedidos con 0% de IVA.
Si el cliente crea una nueva dirección de envío en Polonia, seguirá teniendo 0% de IVA, lo cual no está permitido.

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Hi friend, I think that wouldn't be a problem at the programming level... You could apply a programming rule that says if the shipping country is the same as the online store's country, the 0% VAT rate won't apply even if the billing address is an intra-community company.

[Inform-All]

  On 3/12/2025 at 1:04 PM, riderlol said:

Hi friend, I think that wouldn't be a problem at the programming level... You could apply a programming rule that says if the shipping country is the same as the online store's country, the 0% VAT rate won't apply even if the billing address is an intra-community company.

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Oké, well i'm not here to discuss official EU laws.
If you are interested in optionally setting the billing address as 0% tax, please send me a private message so i can make an quotation.
This module, and all the updates are paid by other forum members (Prestashop users) and will be publicised afterwards.

[riderlol]

In my particular case (and I believe that of many others as well), a tax identification number is not required for the shipping address, and only for the billing address. The reason for this is that for non-business customers, a full invoice is not issued; only a simplified invoice is issued, which legally does not require a tax identification number. However, if you are a business, you activate the "Set a billing address" field, and that is where you do have the field to enter a tax identification number.

[gs2k]

  On 3/12/2025 at 12:47 PM, Inform-All said:

But if the customer also fills in his/her VAT info on the Italian (shipping) address they will still have 0% tax, so the module will still function properly.

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1. Will it work when the delivery country is Italy and the VAT has the prefix FR? Will there be no conflict when checking via API?

When the invoice and shipping address are the same and you enter VAT FR11111 and select the country Italy, the VAT will be checked but not deducted (correct operation).

I ask out of curiosity. The consideration is purely theoretical, after all, the customer will not provide a wrong address on purpose.

2. I use OPC TheCheckout in the billing and delivery address configuration (only here there is a VAT field) and if you have a different delivery address, enter it in the second form (there is no option to enter VAT - the matter is solved). When the customer enters a country other than the EU or Poland in the delivery address, then I settle the matter directly with the customer, informing them that it is illegal (I have not had such a situation yet). Theoretically, I could settle the matter using the checkout and block such a condition (custom code), but as I mentioned, it has never happened yet.

3. I wrote my statement only to clearly describe what is the correct way to issue EU 0% invoices (without focusing on whether we do it through a store or directly in a conversation with the customer).

Regards

 

So thank you very much for the module, in my case it works very well.

Regards

Edited March 12 by gs2k (see edit history)

[karsen]

Hello, the freelancer who created my store installed your VAT Checker module. I have two languages in PrestaShop - the main one is Polish and the other is German. The module works correctly in the German version, but unfortunately, in the Polish version, it also checks VAT numbers and gives a message for companies not registered in VIES: "Invalid VAT number for cross-border transactions within the EU (EU VAT)." I believe this message should not appear for customers from Poland. Can you help?

[Inform-All]

  On 3/21/2025 at 10:49 PM, karsen said:

Hello, the freelancer who created my store installed your VAT Checker module. I have two languages in PrestaShop - the main one is Polish and the other is German. The module works correctly in the German version, but unfortunately, in the Polish version, it also checks VAT numbers and gives a message for companies not registered in VIES: "Invalid VAT number for cross-border transactions within the EU (EU VAT)." I believe this message should not appear for customers from Poland. Can you help?

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I also saw your email about this question, the message you are getting is not from the VatChecker module. This might be a response from the VIES database, or something else in your shop. Just to make sure, can you check if your VatChecker settings are correct, especially if the country of origin is set properly?