Overview

Starting January 1 2025, Amazon will issue VAT Calculation Service invoice identifiers that are limited to exactly 14 characters. The new format replaces the longer strings that sellers have been using for the past years. Sellers who import invoice data into accounting software, ERP platforms, or custom tax‑reporting tools must adjust their workflows to accommodate the shortened identifier.

Key Points

• Exact length — Every VAT invoice number will contain 14 characters, trimming the previous variable‑length strings that could exceed 20 characters.
• Country prefix — The first two characters will always be the ISO‑3166 country code, such as “DE” for Germany or “FR” for France, making the origin of the invoice instantly recognizable.
• Fixed segment layout — Positions 3‑14 are reserved for a checksum followed by a unique alphanumeric sequence, ensuring each ID remains unique while staying within the 14‑character limit.
• Effective date — The 14‑character format becomes mandatory for all invoices generated on or after 1 January 2025; any invoice created before that date will retain its original length.
• Historical compatibility — Older invoices will continue to appear in legacy reports and can still be queried, but they will not be mixed with the new 14‑character IDs in new exports.

How the Invoice Number Change Works

1. Generation — When a sale triggers the VAT Calculation Service, Amazon’s backend assembles a 14‑character string.

   • Example: A UK‑based seller receives the ID “GB41WMTXK60R5I”, where “GB” denotes the United Kingdom and the remaining 12 characters combine a checksum with a seller‑specific sequence.

2. Display in Seller Central — The newly created identifier is shown on the “VAT Invoice” tab of the order detail page.

   • Example: While reviewing order #123‑4567890‑1234567, the seller sees the concise invoice number alongside the tax breakdown, replacing the previously longer code.