VIES
After checkout, EU VAT numbers are checked in the European Commission VIES register in the background. The result, the registered company name, the date and the consultation number are saved on the order. With your own EU VAT number set, the consultation number is the proof tax offices accept that you checked the buyer before charging 0% VAT.
At checkout you can let orders through and flag them (default), or stop orders whose VAT number VIES says is not valid. When VIES is busy or down, orders are never stopped.
Peppol Directory
The buyer is looked up in the public Peppol Directory by VAT number. The order shows whether they are on Peppol and receive Peppol invoices, and their Peppol ID is filled in when they left it empty.
