A Swiss VAT number has the format CHE-123.456.789 MWST. Since 2014 it is the same as the company’s UID (business identification number), simply with a VAT suffix. Whether you need to read one, verify a supplier’s, or obtain your own, the rules are precise.
This guide explains the format, the UID-versus-VAT question, how to find and verify a Swiss VAT number, and how a foreign company gets one. RISTER®, a Corporate Services Provider in Geneva, handles Swiss VAT registration and numbers for domestic and foreign companies.
The Swiss VAT number in brief
- Format: CHE-123.456.789 MWST (the suffix is MWST, TVA or IVA depending on language).
- Structure: “CHE” + 9 digits, the last of which is a MOD11 check digit.
- UID = VAT number: since 1 January 2014 the UID replaced the old six-digit VAT number.
- Verify: free of charge in the official UID Register (uid.admin.ch).
- On invoices: a VAT-registered business must show its number with the MWST/TVA/IVA suffix.
Contents
What does a Swiss VAT number look like?
A Swiss VAT number follows a fixed structure: the country prefix CHE, nine digits, and a language suffix indicating VAT registration.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Prefix | CHE (for “Confoederatio Helvetica Enterprise”) |
| Digits | 9 digits, usually shown as CHE-123.456.789; the last digit is a MOD11 checksum |
| VAT suffix | MWST (German), TVA (French) or IVA (Italian) |
| Full example | CHE-123.456.789 MWST |
Structure of a Swiss VAT number (source: FTA / UID Register).
The suffix matters: CHE-123.456.789 alone is just the business identification number (UID). Only with the MWST/TVA/IVA suffix does it signify that the company is registered for VAT.
UID or VAT number: are they the same?
Yes. Since 1 January 2014, the UID (Unternehmens-Identifikationsnummer / business identification number) replaced the old six-digit Swiss VAT number. Every registered business now uses its UID, and its VAT number is simply that same UID followed by the VAT suffix.
So a company has one identifier used across the administration (commercial register, customs, statistics), and when it is VAT-registered, that identifier — with the MWST/TVA/IVA suffix — is also its VAT number. There is no separate VAT number to obtain.
How to find and verify a Swiss VAT number
You can look up and verify any Swiss VAT number free of charge in the official UID Register operated by the Federal Statistical Office (uid.admin.ch).
- Find a company’s number: search the UID Register by company name to retrieve its UID and VAT status.
- Verify a supplier’s number: enter the UID to confirm it exists and is flagged as VAT-registered — essential before deducting input tax, since a deduction requires a compliant invoice showing a valid VAT number.
- Check the format: a valid number is CHE + 9 digits with a correct MOD11 check digit; a malformed number is an immediate red flag.
Verifying your suppliers’ VAT numbers is not bureaucratic caution — it protects your right to deduct. An invoice from a supplier whose number cannot be validated can have its input-tax deduction refused.
How to get a Swiss VAT number
You do not apply for a VAT number as such: you register for VAT, and the number is issued as part of that process. Once the FTA validates your registration, it activates the VAT suffix on your UID.
The full registration procedure — threshold, documents, timeline — is covered in our complete guide to VAT in Switzerland. A foreign company without a permanent establishment must appoint a fiscal representative in Switzerland to obtain and use its number.
FAQ: Swiss VAT number
What is the format of a Swiss VAT number?
CHE-123.456.789 MWST. It is the prefix “CHE”, nine digits (the last a MOD11 check digit), and a VAT suffix — MWST in German, TVA in French, IVA in Italian. Without the suffix, the number is just the business identification number (UID).
Is the UID the same as the VAT number in Switzerland?
Yes. Since 1 January 2014 the UID replaced the old six-digit VAT number. A VAT-registered company’s number is its UID followed by the MWST/TVA/IVA suffix. There is no separate VAT number.
How do I check a Swiss VAT number?
Use the official UID Register (uid.admin.ch), free of charge. Search by company name or enter the UID to confirm the number exists and is registered for VAT. This is worth doing before deducting input tax on a supplier’s invoice.
How do I get a Swiss VAT number as a foreign company?
Register for Swiss VAT with the FTA; the number is issued as part of registration. A foreign company without a permanent establishment must appoint a fiscal representative domiciled in Switzerland to register and to use the number.
Sources
- Federal Statistical Office — UID Register (uid.admin.ch)
- FTA — Register for Value Added Tax
- Swiss VAT Act (MWSTG / LTVA) — RS 641.20 ; UID Act (LIDE) — RS 431.03
Conclusion
The Swiss VAT number is straightforward once two things are clear: the format is CHE-123.456.789 MWST, and since 2014 it is simply your UID with a VAT suffix. Verify suppliers’ numbers in the UID Register to protect your input-tax deduction, and remember that obtaining one means registering for VAT. RISTER registers your company and manages its Swiss VAT, from the number to the returns. See also our complete guide to VAT in Switzerland.
