---
title: "Exact Online VAT number error for Administrators - Payhawk Help Center"
slug: "failed-to-export-into-exact-online-invalid-supplier-vat-number"
description: "Fix the \"Invalid Supplier VAT number\" export error. Compare the supplier VAT number in Payhawk with Exact Online, correct the format, and export again."
updated: 2026-10-27T15:08:23Z
published: 2026-10-27T15:08:23Z
canonical: "payhawk.com/failed-to-export-into-exact-online-invalid-supplier-vat-number"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://payhawk.com/help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Failed to export into Exact Online. Invalid Supplier VAT number.

## Error message

```plaintext
Invalid Supplier VAT number.
```

## Affected ERP integrations

- Exact Online

## Cause

This error occurs when the VAT number provided for a supplier in Payhawk does not meet the validation criteria set by Exact Online. Exact Online performs specific checks on VAT numbers to ensure their correctness and format. If the VAT number does not adhere to these internal validation rules, the transaction involving that supplier will be rejected, even if the supplier itself is valid.

## Solution

To resolve this issue:

1. Review the supplier's VAT number in Payhawk:
  1. In the [Payhawk Web Portal](https://portal.payhawk.com), go to **Spend** and open the expense in Payhawk that failed to export by clicking on it.
  2. Navigate to the supplier details associated with the expense.
  3. Examine the VAT number entered for the supplier.
2. Verify the VAT number in Exact Online:
  1. Log in to your Exact Online account.
  2. Go to the supplier's record and check their VAT number. Ensure it is correct and formatted according to Exact Online's expectations, for example, country code prefix, number of digits.
  3. If there's a discrepancy, update the VAT number in Payhawk to match the correct one in Exact Online.
3. Correct the VAT number in Payhawk:
  1. If you identify a formatting error or an incorrect VAT number, edit the supplier's details in Payhawk and enter the correct VAT number.