Why You Need a VAT App for Your Shopify Store
If you sell with Shopify to businesses in the EU, you run into an important problem: VAT exemption for business customers. By default, Shopify doesn’t offer automatic VAT validation for intra-community supplies.
Why this matters: According to EU regulations, you must be able to demonstrate for each intra-community supply that you have validated the VAT number via the official VIES database. If you don’t, you risk fines and VAT back taxes.
This means you have to manually check VAT numbers and apply exemptions - a time-consuming and error-prone process. A good VAT app solves this by:
- Automatically validating VAT numbers via the EU VIES database
- Directly applying VAT exemption for valid numbers
- Documenting all transactions for your administration
- Guaranteeing compliance with EU legislation
What to Look for When Choosing a VAT App
Not all VAT apps are equal. Pay attention to these important criteria:
1. Real-time VIES validation The app must check VAT numbers directly in the official EU database, not in an outdated copy.
2. Automatic VAT exemption No manual steps - the app must automatically remove VAT as soon as a number is valid.
3. Customer recognition Returning business customers shouldn’t have to enter their VAT number repeatedly.
4. Multilingual interface For international webshops, multilingual support is important for your customers.
5. Dashboard and reporting You must be able to view and export all validations for your bookkeeping.
6. Customizable design The validation widget must match your webshop’s branding.
Top 5 Shopify VAT Apps
1. EU Tax Exemption App ⭐ Our #1 Choice
Why the best choice: The Tax Exemption App is specially developed for EU VAT exemption and scores highest on all important points.
Advantages:
- ✅ Real-time VIES validation via official EU database
- ✅ Fully multilingual interface and documentation
- ✅ Automatic customer recognition for repeat orders
- ✅ Fully customizable widget (colors, fonts, texts)
- ✅ Extensive dashboard with CSV export
- ✅ Multilingual (6 languages, automatic detection)
- ✅ No code needed - install in 2 minutes
- ✅ Transparent pricing without hidden costs
Disadvantages:
- ❌ Focused on EU - no support for other regions
Price: From €9.99/month
For whom: Perfect for Shopify merchants selling to EU businesses who want complete VAT automation without hassle.
Try EU Tax Exemption App free →
2. Sufio
What it does: Sufio is a professional invoice app with VAT validation as part of invoice creation.
Advantages:
- ✅ Professional, customizable invoices
- ✅ VAT validation integrated in invoice process
- ✅ Good integration with accounting packages
- ✅ Automatic invoice sending
- ✅ Extensive reporting
Disadvantages:
- ❌ Not specialized in VAT exemption
- ❌ More expensive (from €19/month for features you may not need)
- ❌ VAT validation happens after the order, not during checkout
- ❌ No checkout widget for customers
Price: From €19/month
For whom: If you want to send professional invoices AND need VAT validation, Sufio is a good all-in-one solution. For only VAT exemption during checkout, EU Tax Exemption App is more focused and cost-effective.
3. EU VAT Validator
What it does: Basic VAT validation app without many extra features.
Advantages:
- ✅ Simple and cheap
- ✅ Basic VIES validation
Disadvantages:
- ❌ Limited customization options
- ❌ No customer recognition
- ❌ Basic dashboard
- ❌ Limited language support
- ❌ Not actively developed
Price: From €4.99/month
For whom: Only suitable for very small webshops with few B2B sales. For professional use, this app lacks essential features.
4. Bold Discounts
What it does: Discount management app with optional VAT functionality.
Advantages:
- ✅ Powerful discount engine
- ✅ Can be used for VAT exemption via discounts
Disadvantages:
- ❌ No real VAT validation
- ❌ Works with discount codes (not with VAT exemption)
- ❌ No VIES database connection
- ❌ Not compliant for official VAT administration
- ❌ Complex for this use
Price: From €19.99/month
For whom: Not recommended for VAT exemption. This is a workaround, not a real solution.
5. Shopify Plus Tax Exemptions (native)
What it does: Built-in Shopify Plus functionality for tax exemption.
Advantages:
- ✅ Built into Shopify Plus
- ✅ No extra app needed
Disadvantages:
- ❌ Only for Shopify Plus (from €2000/month)
- ❌ No automatic VIES validation
- ❌ Manual setup per customer
- ❌ Limited reporting
- ❌ No checkout widget
Price: Included in Shopify Plus
For whom: If you use Shopify Plus and have very few B2B customers. For volume or automation, EU Tax Exemption App is still the better choice.
See EU Tax Exemption App in Action
See how easily customers validate their VAT number during checkout
Comparison Table
| Feature | EU Tax Exemption App | Sufio | EU VAT Validator | Bold | Shopify Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIES validation | ✅ Real-time | ✅ | ✅ Basic | ❌ | ⚠️ Manual |
| Automatic exemption | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ⚠️ |
| Customer recognition | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ |
| Multilingual | ✅ | ⚠️ Partial | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Checkout widget | ✅ Customizable | ❌ | ⚠️ Basic | ❌ | ❌ |
| Dashboard & export | ✅ Extensive | ✅ | ⚠️ Basic | ❌ | ⚠️ Limited |
| Price per month | €9.99 | €19 | €4.99 | €19.99 | €2000+ |
| Setup time | 2 min | 30 min | 10 min | 60 min | Variable |
Which VAT App Fits Your Webshop?
Choose EU Tax Exemption App if:
- You want automatic VAT validation without hassle
- You regularly sell to EU businesses
- You value good support
- You want a professional solution for fair price
- You want to guarantee compliance
- You want to save time on manual checks
Choose Sufio if:
- You need professional invoices anyway
- Budget is not an issue
- You want an all-in-one solution
Choose EU VAT Validator if:
- You have < 5 B2B orders per month
- Budget is very limited
- You don’t need extra features
Don’t choose a VAT app if:
- You only sell to individuals in your country
- You don’t have EU business customers
Frequently Asked Questions
Can’t I just use the free Shopify functionality? Shopify has no built-in VAT validation. You have to do manual work or use an app. Only Shopify Plus has basic functionality, but that costs €2000+/month.
Do these apps also work for non-EU countries? EU Tax Exemption App is specifically for EU VAT validation via VIES. For other countries you need other solutions.
Is VAT validation legally required? Yes, for intra-community supplies you must be able to demonstrate that you have validated the VAT number via VIES.
Can I combine multiple apps? Technically possible, but not recommended. Choose one good VAT app to avoid conflicts.
Conclusion: EU Tax Exemption App is the Best Choice
After this comparison, our winner is clear: the Tax Exemption App offers the best price-quality ratio for Shopify merchants.
Why EU Tax Exemption App is #1:
- Specialized in EU VAT exemption (no unnecessary features)
- Real-time VIES validation for maximum compliance
- Multilingual interface and support
- Fully customizable to your branding
- Automatic customer recognition saves time
- Transparent pricing without hidden costs
- Setup in 2 minutes without technical knowledge
Whether you have 10 or 1000 B2B orders per month, EU Tax Exemption App scales with you and keeps you compliant.
Ready to automate your VAT process? Start your free trial of EU Tax Exemption App →
More guides:
- Complete VAT exemption setup guide
- How to add VAT number field
- Remove VAT from checkout
- When not to charge VAT
Last update: October 2025. Prices and features may change. Always check current information in the Shopify App Store.