# French VAT Number (Numéro TVA) Validator & VIES Check
> Instant sub-1ms offline checksum validation, syntax verification, and 2026 tax rate lookup for France (FR) VAT numbers.

- **Canonical URL:** https://stanzaapi.com/tools/vat-validator/vies/france-fr
- **Governing Standard:** EU Council Directive 2006/112/EC (European Commission Taxation & Customs Union (VIES))
- **Latency:** <1ms Edge
- **Privacy:** In-memory execution only (zero data stored or logged)

## Technical Overview & Governing Rules
In France, the Value Added Tax (VAT) identification number begins with the country prefix 'FR', followed by the national format: 2 alphanumeric characters followed by 9 digits (TVA).

The number format is governed by national tax authorities and verified via strict syntax and structural pattern matching.

For 2026 tax calculations, the standard VAT rate in France is 20%, with applicable reduced rates of 10%, 5.5%, 2.1%.

## Specification Matrix
| Parameter | Value | Details |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country Prefix | FR | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 / VIES code |
| Local Identifier Name | Numéro TVA | National statutory tax terminology |
| Format Structure | 2 alphanumeric characters followed by 9 digits (TVA) | National syntax specification |
| Checksum Algorithm | Format & regex validation | Offline check digit formula |
| 2026 Standard VAT Rate | 20% | Standard statutory rate |
| 2026 Reduced VAT Rates | 10%, 5.5%, 2.1% | Applicable reduced & super-reduced rates |

## Standard JSON Response Model
```json
{
  "valid": true,
  "countryCode": "FR",
  "countryName": "France",
  "vatNumber": "FR123456789",
  "syntaxValid": true,
  "checksumValid": true,
  "rates": {
    "standardRate": 20,
    "reducedRates": [
      10,
      5.5,
      2.1
    ],
    "effectiveYear": 2026
  }
}
```

## Frequently Asked Questions & Edge Cases
### Q: What is the standard VAT rate in France for 2026?
**A:** The standard VAT rate in France is 20%. Certain qualifying goods and services are eligible for reduced rates of 10%, 5.5%, 2.1%.

### Q: What is the official structure of a France (FR) VAT number?
**A:** A valid France VAT number begins with the country code 'FR', followed by 2 alphanumeric characters followed by 9 digits (TVA). Known locally as Numéro TVA, it is used for domestic invoicing and intra-EU cross-border trade.

### Q: Can France VAT numbers be validated offline without VIES downtime?
**A:** Yes. Our API executes deterministic mathematical checksums and regex format rules at the Cloudflare edge in <1ms, shielding your checkout flow from slow or offline European Commission VIES servers.

### Q: How do I verify if a France company is eligible for cross-border zero-rated B2B invoicing?
**A:** Under EU Directive 2006/112/EC, intra-community supply of goods and services is zero-rated when both seller and buyer have valid VIES VAT registrations. Validating the France VAT check digit and syntax confirms compliance prior to transaction settlement.