Business::Tax::VAT::Validation(3pm) User Contributed Perl Documentation Business::Tax::VAT::Validation(3pm)
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
";
} 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 :
o -1 The provided VAT number is valid.
o 0 Unknown MS code : Internal checkup failed (Specified Member State does not exist)
o 1 Invalid VAT number format : Internal checkup failed (bad syntax)
o 2 This VAT number doesn't exist in EU database : distant checkup
o 3 This VAT number contains errors : distant checkup
o 17 Time out connecting to the database : Temporary error when the connection to the database times out
o 18 Member Sevice Unavailable: The EU database is unable to reach the requested member's database.
o 19 The EU database is too busy.
o 20 Connexion to the VIES database failed.
o 21 The VIES interface failed to parse a stream. This error occurs unpredictabely, so you should retry your validation request.
o 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 !!!
o 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) :
o Bart Heupers, Netherlands.
o Martin H. Sluka, noris network AG, Germany.
o Simon Williams, UK2 Limited, United Kingdom & BenoA~XAXt Galy, Greenacres, France & Raluca Boboia, Evozon, Romania
o Dave O., POBox, U.S.A.
o Kaloyan Iliev, Digital Systems, Bulgaria.
o Tom Kirkpatrick, Virus Bulletin, United Kingdom.
o Andy Wardley, individual, United Kingdom.
o Robert Alloway, Service Centre, United Kingdom.
o 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.
perl v5.14.2 2012-03-26 Business::Tax::VAT::Validation(3pm)