Verifying the Tax Identification Number (TIN) is an essential step before approving a tax invoice or ensuring that a facility is registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) in Saudi Arabia, especially for companies dealing with large numbers of suppliers and customers.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) provides an official electronic service that enables individuals and taxpayers to check a facility's VAT registration status using the TIN or other approved data.

The verification process is carried out through the following steps:

1. Access the VAT registration verification service.
2. Select the appropriate search method.
3. Enter the required number.
4. Accept the terms and conditions.
5. Submit the search request.
6. View the facility's registration status.

What is the Tax Identification Number (TIN)?

The Tax Identification Number is a 15-digit number that a facility obtains after registering for Value Added Tax or Excise Tax. It appears on the invoices issued by the facility and on the tax certificate.

This number is used to identify the facility in its tax transactions, and can also be used to verify its VAT registration through the authority's official service.

Below is an illustrative example of the number format:

3XXXXXXXXXXXXX3

The mentioned example is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual TIN.

You can also check out our Procurement Management Solutions

How is the Tax Identification Number Verified?

The TIN can be checked electronically by performing the following steps:

1. Access the Registration Verification Service

ZATCA provides a service to verify VAT registration, which can be utilized by the public and taxpayers.

2. Choose the Search Type

The service allows conducting the search through a set of options, including:

• Tax Identification Number (TIN).
• VAT Certificate Number.
• Unified Commercial Register Number.

When the TIN is available, select the search option using the Tax Identification Number.

3. Enter the Number

Type the number in the designated field, then ensure it is free from:

• Incomplete digits.
• Extra spaces.
• Errors when copying the number from the invoice.

4. Agree to the Terms and Submit Request

After filling in the data, agree to the terms and conditions, then choose to submit the request.

5. Review the Result

Upon completing the search, the facility's VAT registration status will appear on the screen.

What Data Do I Need for Verification?

It is not necessary to know the TIN in every case; the service provides more than one method for verification.

These options are useful when checking a new supplier or when you have the facility's data without directly knowing the TIN.

What is the Difference Between the TIN and the Commercial Register?

Confusion may occur between the TIN and the Commercial Register (CR) number, although each has a different function.

Tax Identification Number (TIN)

It is a number associated with the facility's tax registration, and according to the authority's definition, it consists of 15 digits.

Commercial Register (CR)

It represents the commercial facility's registration data, and is used to identify it within the commercial registry system.

The importance of distinguishing between them becomes clear as the verification service allows using the CR data to search for the VAT registration status, but this does not make the CR number the same as the TIN.

To review invoicing and its related systems, you can check out our Point of Sale (POS) System

Where is the TIN Located on the Invoice?

According to the ZATCA definition, the TIN appears on the invoice issued by the facility as well as on the tax certificate.

Therefore, when checking an invoice issued by a supplier, the mere presence of a 15-digit number is not enough; one must refer to the verification service to know the facility's registration status.

To view the rest of the important data on the invoice, you can review the Point of Sale (POS) System guide.

Why Should You Verify a Supplier's TIN?

Verification is not merely a formality; it helps the company check the supplier's data before approving it within the accounting system.

Some of the most prominent cases where verification is useful include:

• Starting to deal with a new supplier.
• Receiving a tax invoice for the first time.
• Doubting the validity of the number stated on the invoice.
• Checking supplier data before registering it in the system.
• Noticing a discrepancy between invoice data and facility information.
• Regularly auditing the supplier data registry.

ZATCA mentions, among examples of reportable VAT violations, the use of an incorrect TIN or collecting tax by an unregistered person.

What Should I Do if the TIN is Incorrect?

If you enter the number and the expected result does not appear, it does not necessarily mean there is a violation.

Start by reviewing the following points:

1. Was the number entered correctly?
2. Does the number contain all digits?
3. Was the appropriate search method selected?
4. Was the number copied from the correct tax invoice?
5. Can the search be tried with other data, such as the VAT certificate number or the unified Commercial Register number?

If the problem persists, it is best to request the correct registration data from the facility and then review it through the authority's service.

The authority also provides a service to report VAT violations, and examples cited include an incorrect TIN or collecting tax by an unregistered person.

You can also check out our Point of Sale (POS) System

Does the TIN Mean the Facility is Currently Registered?

The presence of a number on a document or invoice does not eliminate the need to verify the registration status.

For this purpose, the authority provides an independent service to verify the facility's VAT registration, and it displays the registration status after entering the search data.

When checking a supplier or an important invoice, it is better to rely on the official service rather than just reviewing the number's format.

What is the Relationship Between the TIN and VAT?

When registering a facility for VAT purposes, it obtains the necessary registration data to use in its tax transactions.

The importance of the number is highlighted in its use within:

• Invoices.
• Tax Certificate.
• Verifying registration status.
• Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions.
• Checking suppliers' and customers' data.

To understand the system more broadly, you can book a consultation and discuss your needs.

What is the Relationship Between the TIN and the E-Invoice?

The TIN is linked to the e-invoice, but each represents a different concept.

The Tax Identification Number is used to identify the facility for tax purposes.

As for the E-Invoice, it is a document issued and saved electronically in an organized manner through an electronic system according to applicable requirements.

Therefore, the system used in the facility must store the company's, customers', and suppliers' data correctly, so that the required information appears on the invoices according to their type and requirements.

You can review the Point of Sale (POS) System to understand the relationship between invoicing and accounting systems.

How Do Companies Organize Suppliers' and Customers' TINs?

In facilities that deal with large numbers of suppliers, saving data in scattered files may lead to errors such as:

• Registering the supplier's number incorrectly.
• Registering the supplier more than once.
• Relying on outdated data.
• Linking the invoice to the incorrect supplier.
• Difficulty auditing data as the number of transactions increases.

Therefore, it is best to prepare an organized record for each supplier containing their basic data, invoices, purchase transactions, and related accounts.

The Procurement Management System from AamalSoft helps organize supplier data, purchases, accounts, and invoices within an interconnected cycle, but the official verification of the tax registration status remains through the ZATCA service.

Here, the two roles must be separated: the system contributes to saving and managing data, while the authority remains the official reference for verification.

Difference Between TIN Verification and Invoice Verification

There is a clear difference between the two processes:

Consequently, the TIN might be valid while there is another error in the invoice, and vice versa.

Common Errors When Verifying the TIN

Among the most prominent errors to avoid:

• Not distinguishing between the TIN and the Commercial Register number.
• Entering an incomplete number.
• Selecting an inappropriate search method.
• Relying solely on the number's format without performing official verification.
• Relying only on an old copy of the registration certificate.
• Performing verification through an unofficial source.
• Considering the TIN alone as proof of the validity of all invoice data.
• Neglecting to audit the supplier's data within the accounting system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Tax Identification Number (TIN)?

It is a 15-digit number obtained by the facility after registering for VAT or Excise Tax, and it appears on the invoice and the tax certificate.

How do I check the TIN in Saudi Arabia?

Access the VAT registration verification service of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, select the TIN for search, then enter the number and submit the request.

Can I verify without the TIN?

Yes, as the service also allows searching using the VAT certificate number or the unified Commercial Register number.

How many digits are in the TIN?

According to the ZATCA definition, the TIN consists of 15 digits.

Is the TIN the same as the Commercial Register?

No, each has a different use, with the possibility of utilizing the Commercial Register data as a search method in the VAT registration verification service.

What does the verification service show?

The authority's service displays the facility's VAT registration status after entering the necessary search data.

What do I do if I find an incorrect TIN?

Start by reviewing the number and data, and utilize other search methods if needed. If there is actual suspicion of a violation, the authority provides a service to report VAT violations.

Conclusion

The TIN verification process in Saudi Arabia is simple, but it takes on special importance when dealing with suppliers and tax invoices.

The procedure is executed through the ZATCA service:

Choose Search Type → Enter Number → Agree to Terms → Submit Request → Review Registration Status.

When asking What is the TIN? It is a 15-digit number associated with the facility's tax registration and appears on invoices and the tax certificate.

For companies, it is preferable not to stop the procedure at verification only, but to correctly save the supplier's data within the accounting system and link it to purchases, invoices, and accounts.

You can use the Procurement Management System to organize this cycle, along with the Point of Sale (POS) System to manage invoices and associated data in an organized manner.