NAME

       Business::Tax::VAT::Validation - Validate EU VAT numbers against VIES

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 API.  Basic checks that the
       supplied VAT number fit the expected format for the specified EU member state are
       performed first, to avoid unnecessarily sending queries to VIES for input that could never
       be valid.

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

       Original author: Bernard Nauwelaerts <bpgn@cpan.org>

       Maintainership since 2015: David Precious (BIGPRESH) <davidp@preshweb.co.uk>

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) :

       •   Gregor Herrmann, Debian.

       •   Graham Knop.

       •   Bart Heupers, Netherlands.

       •   Martin H. Sluka, noris network AG, Germany.

       •   Simon Williams, UK2 Limited, United Kingdom & Benoit 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.