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arthurdejong / python-stdnum

A Python library to provide functions to handle, parse and validate standard numbers.
https://arthurdejong.org/python-stdnum/
GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1
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use abn as australian VAT number and remove GB from EU member states #246

Closed viggo-devries closed 3 years ago

arthurdejong commented 3 years ago

In PR 167 @ahaeber indicated that the TFN was used as VAT number but Wikipedia mentions the ABN. The TFN Wikipedia page also suggests that the ABN is assigned more often and can be used. Do you know of an official source that states that the ABN is equivalent to VAT numbers as used in the EU (GST in Australia)?

viggo-devries commented 3 years ago

@arthurdejong I found these links:

https://info.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/money-and-tax/tax/abn-australian-business-number This is the ABN number and is used for VAT returns from the country etc.

https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/tax-file-number/ This is the TFN number. It is a personal number not a business number. """You don't have to have a TFN, but without one you pay more tax. You also won't be able to apply for government benefits, lodge your tax return electronically"""

arthurdejong commented 3 years ago

The Australian Business Register also mentions that the TFN can be assigned to businesses. But I did find tax invoice requirements from the Australian Taxation Office that specifically mentions the ABN as being the number that you need to put in invoices. That makes it equivalent to a VAT number, fixed in cc3a970.

arthurdejong commented 3 years ago

I'm looking into the UK VAT number changes that are also part of this PR. Can you provide some valid XI numbers that validate according to https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/ ? None of the numbers in this PR appear to be valid when passing them to the VIES check.

It is probably better to create a new PR to add support for XI VAT numbers.