VAT number

[stijnbe]

Is there a organisation field for the VAT number (company number). Or should I make a custom field?

[xavier]

There is a SIC number. I think that's a US stuff only, so you could stick the VAT number in that ?

[Erik Hommel]

Makes sense. In The Netherlands we use a VAT number and a Chamber of Commerce number, and in most cases both numbers will be required. I use the sic code for the Chamber of Commerce number, and used extern_id for VAT number. But you can always create a custom field.

[stijnbe]

It looks like the SIC field is too small for a VAT number. SIC can contain 8 chars while VAT number is around 20 chars. I think this is a field that really should be added by default to the organisation contact_type. Each country does have some kind of company number.

grtz

Stijn

[Donald Lobo]

the SIC code is more a category that the org is in, rather than a unique number

how about using external_identifier, which is suited to this purpose. its already used for individuals, we just need to expose it for organizations (and then we might as well do it for all contact types, IMO)

lobo

[Erik Hommel]

That would be a solution, but I agree with Stijn that it might be a good idea to add VAT number as a standard field and use external identifier for other purposes?

[Donald Lobo]

any reasoning behind wanting core to store two identifiers rather than only one? you can always create custom groups/fields to store other data

lobo

[Erik Hommel]

Hmmm no real reasoning, apart from that VAT number will occur regularly in projects and is a sort of 'standard' field for organizations. Technically speaking custom fields will provide an answer that is good enough. I guess I would expect remarks from non-technical users as something they are missing?
In Holland we have the same issue with a generic ID for each individual that is used for tax purposes, and as an ID with many social institutions. But there I can use the argument that it is specific for the Netherlands, so there is no 'standard' field for it. Does that make sense?
Erik

[Andrew Perry]

In Australia we have the same issue with companies being identified by an Australian Company Number (ACN), (almost) all businesses being identified by an Australian Business Number (ABN) and most other organisations having some form of ID.

It would be great if the ability to add one or more "ID numbers" (although it should be VARCHAR), with a custom option list of names for different contact types, could be added!

Let's Civi-Make-It-Happen!

[roland]

I agree with Andrew and as Lobo says the SIC field is used for Industry classification
(you can find the valid codes here: http://www.sec.gov/info/edgar/siccodes.htm

The issue with external identifier is that it is used to "link/match" against other systems. Many of our clients have external systems and we use this field to store the unique identifier in that system.

In Australia the ABN/ACN is a unique identifier as a legitimate business. The government have services that check the ABN/ACN is valid. I am assuming other countries would have a similar identifiers.

The other issue with just adding a "custom field" is that when you open the contact details, the ABN/ACN (or VAT) does not appear in the "core" summary. Users need to go and look for it under a custom group heading.

Adding multiple unique identifiers would be a step in the right direction.

I reckon the would be great support for a "Civi-Make-It-Happen" project.

Cheers,
Roly.