> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.avatcado.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Avatcado API

> Validate VAT and GST numbers across 32 countries with a single API call

# Avatcado API

Validate VAT and GST numbers across 32 countries with a single API call. Get company details, consultation numbers, and validity status from VIES, HMRC, BFS, Bronnysund, and ABR, with caching, rate limiting, and structured error responses built in.

* **One endpoint for 32 countries** - EU, UK, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Australia. No need to integrate each upstream separately
* **Free VAT rates for 31 countries** - standard, reduced, and zero rates with no quota impact
* **Automatic input normalization** - pass `"nl 123.456.789 b01"` and get `NL123456789B01`
* **Built-in caching with stale fallback** - fast responses for repeat lookups, even when upstream services are down

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash curl theme={null}
  curl -H "Authorization: Bearer avat_live_your_api_key" \
    "https://api.avatcado.com/v1/validate?vat_number=NL123456789B01"
  ```

  ```typescript @avatcado/node theme={null}
  import Avatcado from "@avatcado/node";

  const avatcado = new Avatcado("avat_live_your_api_key");
  const { data, error } = await avatcado.vat.validate({ vatNumber: "NL123456789B01" });
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  from avatcado import Avatcado

  avatcado = Avatcado("avat_live_your_api_key")
  result = avatcado.vat.validate("NL123456789B01")
  ```
</CodeGroup>

```json theme={null}
{
  "data": {
    "valid": true,
    "vat_number": "NL123456789B01",
    "country_code": "NL",
    "company": {
      "name": "Acme B.V.",
      "address": "Keizersgracht 123, Amsterdam"
    },
    "requested_at": "2026-03-06T12:00:00Z"
  },
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
    "request_duration_ms": 120,
    "cached": false
  }
}
```

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Quickstart" icon="rocket" href="/quickstart">
    Get up and running in under 2 minutes
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Reference" icon="code" href="/api-reference/validate">
    Full endpoint documentation with examples
  </Card>

  <Card title="VAT Rates" icon="percent" href="/vat-rates">
    Current rates for all 31 supported countries
  </Card>

  <Card title="Error Codes" icon="triangle-exclamation" href="/errors/overview">
    Every error code explained with fixes
  </Card>

  <Card title="Rate Limits" icon="gauge-high" href="/rate-limits">
    Tiers, quotas, and rate limit headers
  </Card>
</CardGroup>