§ FOR — ECOMMERCE & MARKETPLACES
API-first verification at seller signup. Block the fakes before they list.
Sellers register with placeholder VAT numbers. Marketplaces are now liable under the OECD model rules.
For: finance, ops, marketplace integrity teams
★ COUNTERSURE ★GBECOMMERCE2026-04-16VERIFIED
§ 02 — THE FLOW
01
Seller submits VAT number at registration
02
Countersure API returns verified | flagged | unknown
03
Decision logged with verification ID
04
Re-checked at every payout cycle
§ RISK NOTE
HMRC can hold marketplaces jointly liable for unpaid VAT by sellers using invalid numbers.
“We integrated Countersure in an afternoon. Fake-VAT signups fell to zero.”
— Ecommerce & Marketplaces, anonymised