Checking an EU VAT number using the VIES SOAP interface

checkeuvat.py

from suds.client import Client

client = Client('http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/checkVatService.wsdl')

# Returns a dict-like object with the fields 'countryCode', 'vatNumber',
# 'requestDate', 'valid' (boolean), 'name', and 'address'.
result = client.service.checkVat('IE', '6390845P')

The library used above is Suds, which is one of the better Python SOAP libraries: https://fedorahosted.org/suds/wiki/Documentation

For more information on the VIES SOAP interface, see: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/faqvies.do#item16

Awesome example @kgaughan, just what I needed :)

@kgaughan - I've tried using your code exactly as is, but I receive an error. I would say I am new to python, so please if possible - keep it simple. :)

Traceback (most recent call last):

File "C:\Users\nm469mz\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\IPython\core\interactiveshell.py", line 2910, in run_code
exec(code_obj, self.user_global_ns, self.user_ns)

File "", line 1, in
from suds.client import Client

File "C:\Users\nm469mz\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\suds\client.py", line 242
except Exception, e:
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

I was having some issues with suds, so in case someone comes across this, here is my alternative:

    from zeep import Client

    # http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/technicalInformation.html
    client = Client('http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/checkVatService.wsdl')

    # Returns a dict-like object with the fields 'countryCode', 'vatNumber',
    # 'requestDate', 'valid' (boolean), 'name', and 'address'.
    result = client.service.checkVat(country, number)