NAME¶
Business::Tax::VAT::Validation - A class for european VAT numbers validation.
SYNOPSIS¶
use Business::Tax::VAT::Validation;
my $hvatn=Business::Tax::VAT::Validation->new();
# Check number
if ($hvatn->check($VAT, [$member_state])){
print "OK\n";
} else {
print $hvatn->get_last_error;
}
DESCRIPTION¶
This class provides an easy api to check european VAT numbers' syntax, and if
they has been registered by the competent authorities.
It asks the EU database (VIES) for this, using its SOAP interface methods.
CONSTRUCTOR¶
- new Class constructor.
-
$hvatn=Business::Tax::VAT::Validation->new();
If your system is located behind a proxy :
$hvatn=Business::Tax::VAT::Validation->new(-proxy => ['http', 'http://example.com:8001/']);
Note : See LWP::UserAgent for proxy options.
PROPERTIES¶
- member_states Returns all member states 2-digit
codes as array
-
@ms=$hvatn->member_states;
- regular_expressions - Returns a hash list containing
one regular expression for each country
- If you want to test a VAT number format ouside this module,
e.g. embedded as javascript in a web form.
%re=$hvatn->regular_expressions;
returns
(
AT => 'U[0-9]{8}',
...
SK => '[0-9]{10}',
);
METHODS¶
- check - Checks if a VAT number exists in the VIES
database
-
$ok=$hvatn->check($vatNumber, [$countryCode]);
You may either provide the VAT number under its complete form (e.g.
BE-123456789, BE123456789) or specify the VAT and MSC (vatNumber and
countryCode) individually.
Valid MS values are :
AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, EL, ES,
FI, FR, GB, HU, IE, IT, LU, LT, LV, MT,
NL, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK
- local_check - Checks if a VAT number format is valid
This method is based on regexps only and DOES NOT ask the VIES database
-
$ok=$hvatn->local_check($VAT, [$member_state]);
- informations - Returns informations related to the
last validated VAT number
-
%infos=$hvatn->informations();
- get_last_error_code - Returns the last recorded
error code
- get_last_error - Returns the last recorded
error
-
my $err = $hvatn->get_last_error_code();
my $txt = $hvatn->get_last_error();
Possible errors are :
- •
- -1 The provided VAT number is valid.
- •
- 0 Unknown MS code : Internal checkup failed (Specified
Member State does not exist)
- •
- 1 Invalid VAT number format : Internal checkup failed (bad
syntax)
- •
- 2 This VAT number doesn't exist in EU database : distant
checkup
- •
- 3 This VAT number contains errors : distant checkup
- •
- 17 Time out connecting to the database : Temporary error
when the connection to the database times out
- •
- 18 Member Sevice Unavailable: The EU database is unable to
reach the requested member's database.
- •
- 19 The EU database is too busy.
- •
- 20 Connexion to the VIES database failed.
- •
- 21 The VIES interface failed to parse a stream. This error
occurs unpredictabely, so you should retry your validation request.
- •
- 257 Invalid response, please contact the author of this
module. : This normally only happens if this software doesn't recognize
any valid pattern into the response document: this generally means that
the database interface has been modified, and you'll make the author happy
by submitting the returned response !!!
- •
- 500 The VIES server encountered an internal server error.
Error 500 : soap:Server TIMEOUT Error 500 : soap:Server
MS_UNAVAILABLE
If error_code > 16, you should temporarily accept the provided number, and
periodically perform new checks until response is OK or error < 17 If
error_code > 256, you should temporarily accept the provided number,
contact the author, and perform a new check when the software is
updated.
SEE ALSO¶
LWP::UserAgent
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/faqvies.do for the FAQs related
to the VIES service.
FEEDBACK¶
If you find this module useful, or have any comments, suggestions or
improvements, feel free to let me know.
AUTHOR¶
Bernard Nauwelaerts <bpgn@cpan.org>
CREDITS¶
Many thanks to the following people, actively involved in the development of
this software by submitting patches, bug reports, new members regexps, VIES
interface changes,... (sorted by last intervention) :
- •
- Bart Heupers, Netherlands.
- •
- Martin H. Sluka, noris network AG, Germany.
- •
- Simon Williams, UK2 Limited, United Kingdom &
BenoA~XAXt Galy, Greenacres, France & Raluca Boboia, Evozon,
Romania
- •
- Dave O., POBox, U.S.A.
- •
- Kaloyan Iliev, Digital Systems, Bulgaria.
- •
- Tom Kirkpatrick, Virus Bulletin, United Kingdom.
- •
- Andy Wardley, individual, United Kingdom.
- •
- Robert Alloway, Service Centre, United Kingdom.
- •
- Torsten Mueller, Archesoft, Germany
LICENSE¶
GPL. Enjoy! See COPYING for further information on the GPL.
DISCLAIMER¶
See
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/viesdisc.do to known the
limitations of the EU validation service.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;
without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.