VATlayer
VATlayer is a REST-based JSON API for checking EU VAT numbers, retrieving VAT rates, and calculating VAT-compliant prices.
What VATlayer is
VATlayer is a REST-based JSON API for checking EU VAT numbers, retrieving VAT rates, and calculating VAT-compliant prices. Its validation endpoint can return company information, while the rate endpoint can identify a country from a two-letter code, a supplied IP address, or the client IP address. The price endpoint calculates VAT-compliant amounts and can also work backward from a price that already includes VAT. VAT information spans 28 EU member states and draws on multiple sources, including European Commission databases. Results are provided in real time, with an average response time around 0.50 seconds. The API sends email and dashboard alerts at 75%, 90%, and 100% of the monthly request allowance; overage fees apply after the allowance is reached. The free plan provides 100 requests per month for non-commercial use with limited functionality. VATlayer describes its audience as individuals, businesses, and merchants buying or selling goods in and around the EU.
Good
- Covers VAT information for 28 EU member states.
- Validation can return company information in JSON.
- Supports reverse calculations for VAT-inclusive prices.
- Provides real-time results with average response around 0.50 seconds.
Watch out
- Free plan is for non-commercial use.
- Free plan allows 100 requests per month.
- Overage fees apply after the monthly allowance.
Who it suits
VATlayer suits individuals, businesses, and merchants who need EU VAT validation, rate lookup, or price calculations through an API. The free plan is limited to non-commercial use and 100 requests per month.
Verdict
VATlayer provides VAT validation, rate lookup, and price calculation through JSON endpoints. Paid plans start at $9.99/mo, while its free option has limited functionality and non-commercial use only.
Plans and prices
From VATlayer's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Free | 100 API requests/month · non-commercial use · limited functionality · $0.00 / yearly |
| Free | Free | 100 API requests/month · Non-commercial use · limited functionality · $0.00 / yearly |
| Basic | $9.99 a month | 1,000 API requests/month · commercial use · $0.03996 per additional API call · $107.99 / yearly |
| Basic Plan | $9.99 a month | 1,000 API requests/month · commercial use · standard support · $0.03996 per additional request · $107.99 / yearly |
| Professional | $29.99 a month | 4,000 API requests/month · commercial use · $0.02999 per additional API call · $314.99 / yearly |
| Professional Plan | $29.99 a month | 4,000 API requests/month · commercial use · standard support · $0.02999 per additional request · $314.99 / yearly |
| Enterprise Plan | $99.99 a month | 20,000 API requests/month · commercial use · standard support · $0.019998 per additional request · $1,019.99 / yearly |
| Enterprise | $99.99 a month | 20,000 API requests/month · commercial use · $0.019998 per additional API call · $1,019.99 / yearly |
The facts
Each one read from VATlayer's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API endpoints
- The public examples document validate, rate and price endpoints at apilayer.net/api.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Country rate lookup
- The rate endpoint can identify a country by country code or IP address and return standard and reduced VAT rates.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Customer scale
- The 2021 Idera announcement said apilayer products served more than 500,000 customers, including Amazon, Apple, Slack, Airbnb, Uber and Facebook.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Data sources
- Requests use multiple data sources, including European Commission databases, with fallback validation across servers.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- Interactive documentation is available after signup and lets users try API features.checked 15 Oct 2026
- EU-wide rates
- The service can return VAT rates for all 28 EU member states.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Founders
- Idera’s announcement identifies brothers Julian and Paul Zehetmayr as apilayer’s founders.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Freshness and speed
- VAT validations, price calculations, and rates are provided in real time, with an average response time around 0.50 seconds.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker presents the API as integrable anywhere through HTTP URL requests and does not publish named plug-in integrations on its product pages.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- VATlayer describes itself as a VAT automation and validation tool for individuals, businesses, and merchants buying or selling goods in and around the EU.checked 4 Oct 2026
- JSON delivery
- API responses use lightweight JSON and requests use URL-based endpoints.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- Access is granted under a limited, non-transferable, revocable licence; copying, redistribution, reverse engineering and resale are prohibited.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: quota rollover
- Unused monthly API calls do not carry into the next billing period.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: service availability
- The terms say the API may become inaccessible because of hardware, software, maintenance or other causes and is supplied as-is.checked 15 Oct 2026
- News: sale confirmation
- EY Law reported on February 1, 2021 that the Zehetmayr brothers sold apilayer to US-based Idera and that the company was founded in 2015.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Company
- VATlayer is built and maintained by APILayer, which its about page describes as a technology company based in Vienna, Austria.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Company founded
- LinkedIn lists APILayer as founded in 2015.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company legal entity
- The service agreement identifies apilayer Data Products GmbH as the supplier, registered in Vienna, Austria.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists APILayer at 11–50 employees and headquarters in Vienna.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Vienna, Austriachecked 28 Sep 2026
- Maker description
- VATlayer’s About page says it is maintained by apilayer, a Vienna-based technology company, with APILAYER LTD headquartered in the UK.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Ownership event
- Idera announced its acquisition of apilayer Data Products GmbH on January 18, 2021.checked 15 Oct 2026
Money
- Limit: free usage
- The free tier is limited to 100 monthly requests, non-commercial use and reduced functionality.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Overage billing
- After 100% of a monthly quota, additional API calls incur overage charges and alerts are sent at 75%, 90% and 100%.checked 15 Oct 2026
The full review of VATlayer
VATlayer is a focused REST API for developers and businesses that need EU VAT validation, rates, and calculations inside their own software. It is strongest as a lightweight building block for commerce workflows; teams needing broader tax operations or a visual application should consider other options.
Overview
VATlayer covers all 28 EU member states and combines multiple data sources, including European Commission databases. Its JSON responses fit services that need to verify VAT numbers, determine a jurisdiction, or produce VAT-compliant prices without building the tax logic from scratch.
The API works in real time and reports an average response time of about 0.50 seconds. VATlayer states roughly 99.9% uptime, but offers no public uptime statistics, so organizations with strict availability governance have less independently visible evidence to assess.
Key features
- VAT-number validation: The validate endpoint checks an EU VAT number and returns company information in JSON. It suits customer onboarding, invoicing, and business-to-business workflows that need a machine-readable check.
- Rate lookup: The rate endpoint can identify a country from a two-letter code, a supplied IP address, or the client IP address. That flexibility helps software choose a jurisdiction, although IP-based identification should not replace a confirmed billing or tax address when accuracy is critical.
- Price calculation: The price endpoint calculates VAT-compliant amounts and supports reverse calculations when an entered amount already includes VAT. This is useful for displaying tax-inclusive prices or separating tax from a gross total.
- Security and delivery: Paid customers receive industry-standard 256-bit HTTPS access. URL-based endpoints and lightweight JSON make integration straightforward for teams already working with APIs, but the product does not name specific third-party integrations.
- Usage monitoring and support: Email and dashboard notices appear at 75%, 90%, and 100% of a monthly allowance; overage fees then apply. Standard support includes email, a knowledge base, issue review, and product updates. Platinum Support adds a dedicated account team and priority assistance for organizations that need a higher-touch service.
Pricing
The Free plan costs $0.00 per month, billed at $0.00 yearly, and allows 100 API requests per month. It is limited in functionality and restricted to non-commercial use, making it suitable for evaluation or personal projects rather than a customer-facing business service.
Basic costs $9.99 per month or $107.99 yearly, with 1,000 requests monthly and commercial use. Additional calls cost $0.03996 each. This is the sensible entry point for a small production workflow, but the quota is quickly reached by busy stores or multi-client services.
Professional is $29.99 per month or $314.99 yearly and raises the allowance to 4,000 requests. Its overage rate drops to $0.02999 per call, so it fits growing commercial usage where Basic's cap and surcharge become restrictive.
Enterprise costs $99.99 per month or $1,019.99 yearly, includes 20,000 requests, and charges $0.019998 per extra call. It is aimed at higher-volume systems that can justify a larger commitment. All paid plans should be budgeted with overage exposure in mind, and the stated transaction limit is 1,000 transactions per month.
Platforms
VATlayer is delivered as an API rather than a native desktop or mobile application. Its REST endpoints and JSON output are best suited to backend services, websites, checkout systems, and internal tools that can make HTTP requests.
Who it's for
Choose VATlayer if you are a developer, merchant, or business operating in and around the EU and need a compact set of VAT services embedded in an existing workflow. The 28-country scope and reverse price calculations cover common EU commerce requirements. It is a poor fit for buyers wanting a complete tax-management interface, named commerce integrations, or generous commercial usage at no cost.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Focused endpoint set: Validation, rate lookup, and forward or reverse price calculation cover the core tasks many applications need.
- EU-wide coverage: Support for all 28 member states avoids assembling separate country services.
- Predictable monitoring: Threshold alerts at 75%, 90%, and 100% help teams react before exhausting an allowance.
- Commercial entry plan: Basic enables paid use from $9.99 per month.
Cons
- Very small free allowance: 100 requests monthly and non-commercial terms rule it out for most live businesses.
- Overage risk: Requests beyond the quota are billable, so traffic spikes can increase costs.
- Limited public reliability evidence: A stated 99.9% uptime is not accompanied by public uptime statistics.
- API-only scope: Buyers seeking a ready-made tax workspace or named integrations will need another product.
Alternatives
LOVAT is the better choice when Android, iOS, web, and API access, a free trial, or data-import workflows matter; its Start-up plan is €27.00 per month for 100 transactions.
VAT Direct suits UK businesses wanting free bridging for VAT and Income Tax Self Assessment, with digital records for up to 500 transactions per period.
Vatstack is worth considering for developer projects needing free-for-life dummy validations and unlimited quotes.
VAT Sense offers a 100-request free tier and a Basic plan at €11.99 per month for 2,000 requests.
Kintsugi is an alternative for API users focused on global nexus monitoring, exposure auditing, and risk assessment.
BTCHub is better suited to desktop users needing HMRC Making Tax Digital filing and consolidated VAT tools for £275 per year.
Taxually fits buyers seeking tax-authority payments or yearly reporting rather than an embedded validation API.
VAT MTD targets iOS and macOS users filing a single VAT number on monthly or quarterly plans.
Verdict
VATlayer is a good recommendation for software teams that need dependable EU VAT validation, rates, and calculations through a small JSON API. Its main advantage is focused functionality with broad EU coverage; look elsewhere if you need a visual tax platform, extensive integrations, or a free commercial allowance large enough for production traffic.
