<p>Commerce, by default, uses <a href="https://github.com/snowcap/vat-validation" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this library</a> for VAT validation.</p>

<p>That library is just a wrapper for a European SOAP endpoint for these types of things at <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/checkVatService.wsdl" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/checkVatService.wsdl</a></p>

<p>The error code <code>MS_UNAVAILABLE</code> that endpoint can return says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The Member State service is unavailable, try again later or with another Member State;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So I'm guessing an invalid member state was selected, or they are having some technical difficulties on their end.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-19T08:19:05.817Z
Thanks Brad, it seemed to be an error on their end.  When I put the same VAT number into this webpage http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/vatRequest.html it returned an error and asked to try again later.
conormcafee
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-18T17:32:05.150Z
2017-10-18T17:32:05.150Z
Brad Bell
<p>Folks, just wondering if anyone has further knowledge on Craft Commerce's Tax Rates? I am setting up my first commerce store and the client requires that if the customer is buying from the EU, and has a valid VAT number, they then <em>do not</em> pay the 20% VAT.</p>

<p>I have my Tax Categories, Zones and Rates set up, and have checked the option to 'Don't apply this tax when the shipping address has a valid VAT ID' - however when it comes to the payment screen after putting in a VAT number in the businessTaxId input on the Shipping Address screen, it does not deduct the 20% added VAT. It does pick up the correct Tax Zone as I can see it is EU Tax that has been added, it is just not deducting when I enter a VAT ID.</p>

<p>Just wondering is there something else that I would need to be covering first before this works? Apologies if this is a little too vague.</p>

<p>I am currently running the latest version of Craft &amp; Craft Commerce, and working from the base files that you get when you download.</p>

<p><strong><em>Edit
I have just noticed this error in the commerce.log file if it helps matters</em></strong></p>

<pre><code>[Forced] Communication with VAT API failed: MS_UNAVAILABLE
</code></pre>

<plugin-craftcommerce>
VAT not being removed when adding a number to businessTaxID
# VAT not being removed when adding a number to businessTaxID

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-18)

Folks, just wondering if anyone has further knowledge on Craft Commerce's Tax Rates? I am setting up my first commerce store and the client requires that if the customer is buying from the EU, and has a valid VAT number, they then do not pay the 20% VAT.
I have my Tax Categories, Zones and Rates set up, and have checked the option to 'Don't apply this tax when the shipping address has a valid VAT ID' - however when it comes to the payment screen after putting in a VAT number in the businessTaxId input on the Shipping Address screen, it does not deduct the 20% added VAT. It does pick up the correct Tax Zone as I can see it is EU Tax that has been added, it is just not deducting when I enter a VAT ID.
Just wondering is there something else that I would need to be covering first before this works? Apologies if this is a little too vague.
I am currently running the latest version of Craft & Craft Commerce, and working from the base files that you get when you download.
Edit
I have just noticed this error in the commerce.log file if it helps matters
[Forced] Communication with VAT API failed: MS_UNAVAILABLE

**Tags:** plugin-craftcommerce

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-10-18. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

Commerce, by default, uses [this library](https://github.com/snowcap/vat-validation) for VAT validation.

That library is just a wrapper for a European SOAP endpoint for these types of things at <http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/checkVatService.wsdl>

The error code `MS_UNAVAILABLE` that endpoint can return says:

> The Member State service is unavailable, try again later or with another Member State;

So I'm guessing an invalid member state was selected, or they are having some technical difficulties on their end.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks Brad, it seemed to be an error on their end.  When I put the same VAT number into this webpage http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/vatRequest.html it returned an error and asked to try again later.  

---

