SENTINELCompany Intelligence Verify a company
SENTINELUser Guide

USER GUIDE Official-source verification knowledge base

Verify companies with confidence.

Learn what to enter, which official sources SENTINEL checks and how to understand every verification result.

Verify a company from...
PolandUnited KingdomAustraliaMiddle EastCzechiaFinlandFranceSlovakiaOther EU and VIES countries
01

KNOWLEDGE AREA

Getting started

Getting started#

Quick start

The shortest reliable path from company details to a reviewable verification record.

  1. 01
    Select the company country

    Jurisdiction controls registry selection, identifier interpretation and VAT routing.

  2. 02
    Enter VAT when you have it

    Use the complete number, including its country prefix for EU VAT.

  3. 03
    Add the national identifier

    A deterministic company number, ABN, NIP, KRS, IČO, Business ID or SIREN usually gives the strongest official lookup.

  4. 04
    Add the legal name if known

    The name improves readability and conservative identity comparison, but it can be optional when an exact identifier is supplied.

  5. 05
    Select Verify company

    SENTINEL routes only to sources that apply to the selected country and supplied identifiers.

  6. 06
    Review sources separately

    Read the overall result, then inspect legal-registry, VAT and reference cards on their own terms.

Before you start, try to have

  • The company jurisdiction
  • An official VAT number, when VAT validation is relevant
  • The national registration or tax identifier
  • The registered legal name, if known
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Getting started#

What SENTINEL does

SENTINEL is an official-source evidence layer for early company and supplier verification.

SENTINEL Company Intelligence sends the supplied details only to applicable configured public or official sources, normalizes the returned evidence and explains how the overall result was reached.

REGISTRY EVIDENCE

Legal entity

Confirms identity, registration number and available legal status through an applicable national registry.

TAX EVIDENCE

Tax registration

Confirms national/EU VAT through HMRC, KAS or VIES, or Australian GST facts through ABR when applicable.

AUDITABILITY

Evidence trail

Keeps each source, timestamp, mode and reference visible instead of hiding them behind one opaque score.

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Getting started#

What should I enter?

Choose the row that matches the information you already have.

At least one of company name, official registry number or VAT number is required.
What you haveWhat to enterWhat SENTINEL can do
VAT number onlyCountry + VATRun HMRC for GB or VIES for an applicable EU VAT number. A national registry runs only where the number can be resolved deterministically.
National identifier onlyCountry + identifierQuery the supported national registry. VIES does not run merely because an identifier resembles a VAT number.
VAT + national identifierCountry + both identifiersRecommended when available: enables separate tax and legal-entity evidence.
Company name onlyCountry + exact legal nameName search is available only for selected registries and may be ambiguous. Exact identifiers are strongly preferred.
Name + identifierCountry + identifier + legal nameUse an exact registry lookup and compare the returned legal name conservatively.
  1. 01Know the country?

    If not, identify the jurisdiction first. A country cannot be inferred safely from a company name.

  2. 02Have VAT?

    Enter it with its prefix. This activates the applicable VAT workflow.

  3. 03Have a national identifier?

    Add it for the strongest deterministic legal-registry lookup.

  4. 04Only have a name?

    Use the registered legal name and expect possible ambiguity or limited coverage.

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Getting started#

How routing and evidence work

Inputs determine the router; providers return independent evidence; the decision engine explains the result.

  1. 01Inputs

    Country, legal name, VAT, national identifier and optional UK postcode.

  2. 02Country router

    Selects only provider integrations applicable to the query.

  3. 03Official providers

    Each source returns its own status, identity details and source metadata.

  4. 04Normalized evidence

    Different response formats become one consistent evidence model.

  5. 05Decision engine

    Applies deterministic rules to legal, VAT, match and failure states.

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02

KNOWLEDGE AREA

Verifying a company

Verifying a company#

Verification form explained

What each field means, whether it is required and which checks it can activate.

FieldRequired?Use it forExampleWhat it triggers
Legal company nameOptional with an exact identifierReadability and conservative name comparisonORLEN S.A.Supported exact-name searches or identity comparison
Country / jurisdictionStrongly recommendedCountry routing and identifier interpretationPolandApplicable national registry and VAT route
VAT numberOptionalTax or VAT validationPL5831014898VIES, HMRC or a compatible national VAT lookup
Official registry numberOptional, recommendedDeterministic official lookup26060469 or an 11-digit ABNCompanies House, ABN Lookup, KRS, ARES, PRH/YTJ, France API or RPO
Registered postcodeOptional; UK onlyDisambiguating similar UK name-search resultsEH1 1YZCompanies House candidate comparison
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Verifying a company#

Legal company name

Use the registered legal name rather than a brand or trading name whenever possible.

Company name is optional when a deterministic identifier is available. When supplied, SENTINEL compares it conservatively with the official returned name; it does not use aggressive fuzzy matching to force a match.

Use a name to

  • Make the record easier to read
  • Search selected registries that support exact legal-name lookup
  • Detect a conflict between a supplied name and an exact official identifier
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Verifying a company#

Country and jurisdiction

The selected country is the primary routing decision for registry and VAT evidence.

Country tells SENTINEL how to interpret the identifier, which national providers apply and whether the VAT prefix is compatible. A supported VAT prefix can infer country, but an explicit selection is clearer and safer.

PL

Poland

Routes to KAS and KRS; VIES also runs when VAT is supplied.

CZ

Czechia

Routes to ARES; VIES runs only when VAT is supplied.

GB

United Kingdom

Routes legal identity to Companies House and VAT to HMRC.

AU

Australia

Routes an exact ABN to ABN Lookup. GST is an ABR fact; VIES does not apply.

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Verifying a company#

VAT number

A VAT number is a tax-registration identifier, not automatically a company registration number.

For EU VAT, enter the country prefix and national part, for example PL5831014898, FR10632012100 or FI01120389. Standard GB VAT numbers are checked by HMRC, not VIES. Australia uses GST; select Australia and enter the ABN in the official identifier field instead of the VAT field.

VAT can help SENTINEL

  • Run VIES for applicable EU numbers
  • Run HMRC for supported GB numbers
  • Resolve a compatible national identifier in selected countries
  • Compare VAT identity details when the authority returns them
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Verifying a company#

National identifiers

A national identifier points to a company or national register and is not necessarily a VAT number.

CountryIdentifierFormat examplePrimary use
United KingdomCompany numberSC095000 or 00445790Companies House legal entity
PolandNIP or KRS5831014898 or 0000123456KAS tax record or KRS legal entity
CzechiaIČO26060469ARES legal entity
FinlandBusiness ID / Y-tunnus0112038-9PRH/YTJ legal entity
FranceSIREN or SIRET356000000French legal unit or establishment
SlovakiaIČO31333532RPO legal entity
AustraliaABN70 617 226 123ABR business registration and GST facts; not ASIC legal status
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03

KNOWLEDGE AREA

Country guides

Country guides#

Poland — NIP, KRS and VAT

Use NIP for KAS, KRS for the legal register and a PL VAT number for VIES.

  • KASNational VAT
  • KRSLegal registry
  • VIESEU VAT validation
  • BRIS referenceReference layer
InputFormatPrimary sourceWhat happens
PL VAT / NIPPL + 10 digitsVIES + KASVIES validates EU VAT; KAS checks the Polish taxpayer record.
NIP10 digitsKASKAS can return legal name, VAT status, REGON, KRS, address and request reference.
KRS10 digits, commonly leading zeroKRSThe Ministry of Justice current extract is queried directly.
  1. 01VAT: PL5831014898

    VIES validates the EU VAT number.

  2. 02NIP: 5831014898

    KAS returns national VAT and taxpayer identity evidence.

  3. 03KRS number returned

    When KAS supplies KRS, SENTINEL can deterministically continue to KRS.

  4. 04KRS current extract

    The legal entity and available legal status are checked separately.

  5. 05BRIS

    Shown as coverage reference only and never counted as a fourth evidence source.

VIES, KAS and KRS describe different facts. EU VAT may remain valid while the legal registry reports liquidation or another status change. SENTINEL keeps those facts separate and can return CONFLICTING DATA.

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Country guides#

United Kingdom — Companies House and HMRC

Use a Company Number for legal identity and a GB VAT number for HMRC VAT status.

  • Companies HouseLegal registry
  • HMRCNational VAT
InputSourceConfirms
UK Company NumberCompanies HouseExact legal entity, company status, incorporation and address details when available
Exact legal nameCompanies HouseConservative name search; multiple candidates can produce an ambiguous result
GB VAT numberHMRCUK VAT registration and available registered business details
Registered postcodeCompanies HouseOptional disambiguation for name-search candidates
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Country guides#

Australia — ABN, ACN and GST

Use the 11-digit ABN for official Australian Business Register evidence; GST is not VAT and ABR is not an ASIC company-status check.

  • Australian ABRBusiness registration + GST
Identifier / factExampleMeaning in SENTINEL
ABN70 617 226 123Primary 11-digit identifier. SENTINEL validates the official checksum before any request.
ACN617 226 123Related Australian Company Number only when ABR returns it; it is not queried as a substitute in this provider.
GSTRegistered / not registeredAustralian tax-registration fact returned within the same ABR response. It is never labelled VAT or sent to VIES.

Current ABN Lookup availability: configured for live official requests.

Best input

  • Select Australia
  • Enter the exact 11-digit ABN in the official identifier field
  • Optionally add the entity name for conservative comparison
  • Do not enter ABN or GST in the VAT field
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Country guides#

Middle East — current source availability

Bahrain, Dubai Mainland, Saudi Arabia and Qatar were reviewed, but are not exposed as automated SENTINEL providers until their blockers are resolved.

Jurisdiction / sourceCurrent statusWhy it is not automated
Bahrain — SIJILATBLOCKED — NO MACHINE INTERFACEOfficial public search exists, but no documented exact-company API or bulk interface was found.
Dubai Mainland — Invest in DubaiPUBLIC SEARCH ONLYOfficial license search exists, but no documented public machine interface was found.
Dubai Mainland — Dubai Pulse DED/DETREADY WITH PERMISSIONThe official dataset/API requires a grant and issued API credentials; scope is Mainland Dubai, not all UAE or free zones.
Saudi Arabia — Ministry of CommerceBLOCKED — VERIFICATION CODEThe exact CR inquiry requires a verification code; SENTINEL will not bypass it. The documented REST API is aggregate statistics, not company verification.
Qatar — MOCI Business MapLEGAL REVIEW REQUIREDNo documented lookup API was found and the published terms do not clearly authorize automated commercial reuse.
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Country guides#

Czechia — IČO and ARES

Enter the eight-digit IČO as the national identifier for deterministic ARES verification.

  • ARESLegal entity data
  • VIESEU VAT validation
  • BRIS referenceReference layer

IČO identifies a Czech economic subject. It is not a VAT number by definition. ARES exact verification requires a valid IČO or a compatible legal-person CZ VAT number that resolves to the same identifier.

HaveEnterResulting route
IČO 26060469Country CZ + national identifierARES
CZ VATCountry CZ + VATVIES and ARES only if the number is a compatible legal-person identifier
Company name onlyExact legal nameARES is not treated as a general name-search workflow
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Country guides#

Finland — Business ID and VAT

Use the Business ID for PRH/YTJ and the FI-prefixed VAT ID for VIES.

  • PRH / YTJLegal entity data
  • VIESEU VAT validation
  • BRIS referenceReference layer
IdentifierExampleMeaning
Business ID / Y-tunnus0112038-9National business identifier used by PRH/YTJ
EU VAT IDFI01120389VAT identifier used by VIES

PRH/YTJ can use a valid Business ID or an exact legal name. SENTINEL may convert a compatible FI VAT national part to Business ID format only when validation succeeds.

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Country guides#

France — SIREN, SIRET and VAT

Use SIREN for a legal unit, SIRET for an establishment and the FR VAT number for VIES.

  • France Government APICompany data
  • VIESEU VAT validation
  • BRIS referenceReference layer
IdentifierExampleMeaning
SIREN356000000Nine-digit legal-unit identifier
SIRET14 digitsSIREN plus a five-digit establishment identifier
French VATFR10632012100EU VAT identifier for VIES

The French government company search can resolve a valid SIREN, accept a SIRET by using its SIREN component, derive a compatible SIREN from VAT or search an exact legal name. These identifiers are not interchangeable without validation.

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Country guides#

Slovakia — IČO and RPO

Use a validated eight-digit IČO for the strongest Slovak RPO lookup.

  • RPOLegal entity data
  • VIESEU VAT validation
  • BRIS referenceReference layer

RPO resolves an organisation deterministically by IČO or can use an exact legal name. SENTINEL does not assume that the national part of a Slovak VAT number is the IČO.

HaveEnterRoute
IČO 31333532National identifierRPO
SK VATVAT fieldVIES
Exact registered nameLegal company nameRPO exact-name search, which may still be ambiguous
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Country guides#

Other EU and VIES countries

VIES can validate applicable EU VAT numbers even when no national registry adapter is integrated.

  • VIESEU VAT validation
  • BRIS referenceReference layer

Select the country and enter the complete VAT number. For a country without an integrated national registry, the result may be VAT-only. That is valid product behavior and must not be interpreted as an invalid company.

BRIS can indicate European registry coverage, but SENTINEL does not query BRIS as independent company evidence. The evidence count therefore reflects only completed integrated providers.

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Country guides#

Latvia — current capability

The Latvian national dataset is optional and is not advertised as active unless explicitly enabled and loaded.

  • VIESEU VAT validation
  • BRIS referenceReference layer

In the current configuration, the national Latvian dataset verification is not an active production capability. VIES can still validate an LV VAT number and BRIS can be shown as reference coverage.

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04

KNOWLEDGE AREA

Understanding results

Understanding results#

Overall verification status

The overall status summarizes deterministic legal, VAT, matching and provider evidence without hiding individual sources.

StatusMeaningWhat to do next
VERIFIED ACTIVEAuthoritative registry evidence supports an active legal entity.Review each returned source, then continue your internal qualification workflow.
PARTIALLY VERIFIEDAt least one official source confirmed part of the identity, but applicable evidence is incomplete.Review unresolved or unavailable sources before relying on the result.
INACTIVEAn authoritative national registry matched the entity and returned an inactive legal status.Open the registry evidence and review the returned status before onboarding.
NOT FOUNDApplicable sources completed their checks without finding an exact match.Confirm the country, identifier type and every character of the identifier.
CONFLICTING DATAOfficial sources returned inconsistent identity, legal-status or VAT facts.Review each source independently and investigate the discrepancy manually.
UNABLE TO VERIFYThe available checks did not return enough reliable evidence for a conclusion.Correct missing identifiers or retry an unavailable source later.
VAT INVALIDThe VAT provider did not validate the supplied VAT number and no legal-registry match resolved the result.Confirm the VAT number, then verify legal existence separately.
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Understanding results#

Understanding confidence

Confidence describes evidence quality and consistency, not commercial or fraud risk.

LevelMeaning
HIGHStrong, exact and consistent authoritative evidence; typically an exact active registry match with completed applicable checks.
MEDIUMUseful evidence exists, but it is partial, negative VAT-only evidence or contains a source conflict that needs review.
LOWEvidence is limited, ambiguous or technically incomplete and should not be treated as a reliable identity conclusion.
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Understanding results#

Understanding Sources confirmed

The numerator counts positively confirmed applicable evidence sources; the denominator counts applicable integrated evidence checks.

POLAND EXAMPLE

3 / 3

VIES, KAS and KRS were all applicable and confirmed. BRIS remains a separate reference layer.

VIES-ONLY EXAMPLE

1 / 1

The one applicable integrated evidence source confirmed. The country is not penalized for providers SENTINEL has not integrated.

INCOMPLETE EXAMPLE

2 / 3

Two applicable sources confirmed while one applicable evidence check remained unresolved or negative.

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Understanding results#

Conflicting data

SENTINEL reports a conflict when official evidence describes inconsistent identity or status facts.

Illustrative conflict. Legal and tax systems describe different facts and may update at different times.
SourceIllustrative findingFact described
KRSLIQUIDATIONCurrent legal-registry status
KASACTIVEPolish national VAT registration
VIESVALIDEU VAT validation

The decision engine does not silently choose the most convenient answer. It preserves the legal status, VAT status and source timestamps independently and asks the user to review the discrepancy.

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Understanding results#

Data and source modes

Mode explains how evidence reached the record; it does not change the underlying authority.

ModeMeaning
LIVEA direct official-source request was made for this verification.
DEMOIllustrative fixture data is being used and must not be treated as a live check.
SANDBOXProvider test data is being returned, currently relevant to the configured HMRC environment.
CACHEDA previously retrieved official response is reused within the provider cache policy.
DATASETEvidence comes from a configured official dataset snapshot rather than a request-time API call.
REFERENCECoverage metadata such as BRIS. It is visible but is not independent verification evidence.
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05

KNOWLEDGE AREA

Official sources

Official sources#

European Commission VIES

VIES validates an EU VAT registration; it is not a national company register.

  • VIESEU VAT validation
ConfirmsDoes not confirmWhen SENTINEL uses it
VAT validity and available member-state name/addressLegal-entity activity, financial health, sanctions or insolvencyWhen a compatible EU VAT number is supplied

VALID means the VAT number was validated for EU VAT purposes at the recorded check time. INVALID does not prove that the company does not exist. Some member states return no legal name or address; the VAT result remains valid and the missing field is reported clearly.

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Official sources#

Companies House and HMRC

The two UK authorities provide separate legal-entity and VAT evidence.

  • Companies HouseLegal registry
  • HMRCNational VAT
UK LEGAL REGISTRY

Companies House

Confirms company identity, number, legal status, incorporation and available address data. It does not validate VAT.

UK VAT

HM Revenue & Customs

Checks a supported GB VAT number and may return the registered business name and address. It does not determine Companies House legal status.

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Official sources#

Australian Business Register — ABN Lookup

ABN Lookup is the official ABR service used for exact ABN registration and returned GST facts.

  • Australian ABRBusiness registration + GST
ConfirmsDoes not confirmAvailability
ABN status, effective date, entity name/type, business location, ACN and GST fact when returnedCurrent ASIC company status, legal-entity existence, solvency, commercial viability or riskLive official requests ready

SENTINEL makes one official ABR request and records one evidence source. ABN and GST are two facts from that one source and never inflate Sources confirmed.

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Official sources#

National Court Register — KRS

The Polish Ministry of Justice current extract is authoritative legal-entity evidence.

  • KRSLegal registry

KRS can confirm the legal name, KRS number, current legal status, registration date, registered address and selected official identifiers when returned by the extract.

SENTINEL normalizes only explicit current-status signals. Recognized outcomes include active, liquidation, inactive and unknown; it does not infer liquidation from unrelated historical free text.

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Official sources#

Polish VAT Register — KAS

KAS provides Polish national VAT and taxpayer identity evidence for a valid NIP.

  • KASNational VAT

KAS can return national VAT status, NIP, legal name, REGON, KRS, address, registration dates and an official request reference. It is different from both VIES and KRS.

  1. 01NIP

    KAS taxpayer lookup

  2. 02KRS returned

    Deterministic KRS dependency becomes available

  3. 03KRS current extract

    Separate legal-status evidence

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Official sources#

ARES — Czech Ministry of Finance

ARES provides Czech legal-entity data for a deterministic IČO.

  • ARESLegal entity data

ARES can confirm the IČO, legal name, active/inactive state, formation date and address when returned. SENTINEL uses the official IČO route and does not treat ARES as a loose company-name search.

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Official sources#

PRH / YTJ — Finland

The Finnish Patent and Registration Office open interface provides business identity and registration evidence.

  • PRH / YTJLegal entity data

PRH/YTJ can resolve a valid Business ID or an exact current legal name and can return business identity, registration, legal form, address and activity dates. It does not replace VIES VAT validation.

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Official sources#

Recherche d'entreprises — France

The French government public company search supplies legal-unit and establishment data.

  • France Government APICompany data

The source can confirm a public legal unit's SIREN, legal name, operating status, creation date and available registered address. It can use SIREN, SIRET, compatible VAT-derived SIREN or an exact legal name according to public diffusion rules.

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Official sources#

Register of Legal Persons — RPO

The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic provides Slovak legal-person evidence.

  • RPOLegal entity data

RPO can resolve a valid IČO or exact legal name and return the current name, identifier, registration details, address and available activity dates. Exact identifiers remain the preferred route.

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Official sources#

BRIS — reference, not evidence

BRIS is the European Business Registers Interconnection System shown as coverage metadata only.

  • BRIS referenceReference layer

In SENTINEL, BRIS indicates that the jurisdiction participates in the European e-Justice business-register network. SENTINEL does not scrape or query it and does not treat it as an independent entity verification provider.

LayerDisplayed asCounts toward Sources confirmed?
VIES / KAS / KRSIndependent evidence sourcesYes, when applicable and positively confirmed
BRISCoverage referenceNo
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06

KNOWLEDGE AREA

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting#

Source unavailable and network errors

A technical source state means no conclusion was made from that provider.

StateMeaningRecommended action
SOURCE UNAVAILABLEThe official service or adapter could not complete the checkRetry later or use the linked official authority
NETWORK ERRORThe application could not complete the network requestRetry; do not interpret it as a negative company finding
TIMEOUTNo response arrived within the bounded provider timeoutRetry later and review other completed sources
RATE LIMITED / SERVER BUSYThe authority temporarily limited or deferred requestsWait before retrying
MALFORMED RESPONSEA response arrived but did not match the expected schemaTreat as a provider error, not invalid input
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Troubleshooting#

Not checked and not applicable

These states explain routing or missing deterministic information; they are not negative matches.

INSUFFICIENT IDENTIFIER

NOT CHECKED

The source might apply, but SENTINEL lacks a deterministic identifier. Example: KRS number was neither supplied nor returned by KAS.

ROUTING

NOT APPLICABLE

The source does not apply to the supplied country, identifier or workflow. This is expected, not a failure.

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Troubleshooting#

Not found, invalid VAT and invalid input

These outcomes are different and require different corrections.

ResultMeaningCheck first
NOT FOUNDThe official source completed but found no exact recordCountry, identifier type and every digit
VAT INVALIDVIES or HMRC did not validate the VAT registrationVAT prefix, number and whether legal existence needs a separate registry check
INVALID INPUTThe format is unsupported or malformed before/at provider lookupLength, checksum, punctuation and correct field
AMBIGUOUSA name search returned multiple or non-unique candidatesUse the official registry number instead of a name
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Troubleshooting#

Provider status glossary

Every current provider query status used by the backend, grouped in one reference table.

Provider statusMeaning
SUCCESSThe source completed its request. Read match, legal and VAT fields for the actual finding.
NOT CONFIGUREDThe integration is disabled or lacks required server-side configuration.
NOT APPLICABLEThe source does not apply to this country, identifier or workflow. This is not a failure.
UNAVAILABLEThe provider could not be used at that time.
RATE LIMITEDThe authority temporarily limited request volume.
ERRORThe provider adapter could not complete the check.
INVALID INPUTThe supplied identifier is unsupported or malformed for this source.
SERVICE UNAVAILABLEThe official service reported temporary unavailability.
MEMBER STATE UNAVAILABLEVIES could not reach the relevant member-state service.
TIMEOUTThe source did not answer before the bounded timeout.
SERVER BUSYThe official service reported that it was busy.
NETWORK ERRORThe application could not complete the network request.
PARSE ERRORA response arrived but did not match the expected public schema.
UNKNOWNThe source returned a condition that could not be classified safely.
AUTH ERRORAuthentication for a credentialled provider failed.
UPSTREAM ERRORThe upstream authority returned a provider-side error.
CONFIGURATION ERRORThe integration configuration is inconsistent or incomplete.
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07

KNOWLEDGE AREA

Reports & history

Reports & history#

Verification History

History keeps the latest 50 normalized verification records and reopens the evidence returned at that time.

Each record includes verification ID, submitted query, checked time, overall status, confidence, normalized entity and source results. Upstream raw provider responses are not stored as a separate raw archive.

Use the History tab to open a record. The rolling retention limit is 50 records; older entries are removed as new verifications are saved.

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Reports & history#

PDF verification reports

PDF reports are generated on demand from a saved normalized verification record.

A report can include

  • Overall status and confidence
  • Normalized entity and query information
  • Every provider and its source role
  • Legal and VAT statuses
  • Checked timestamps, references and data mode
  • Decision and confidence reasons

The generated PDF is not stored as a permanent file by the application. It is recreated from the retained verification record when requested.

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Reports & history#

Timestamps and source references

Timestamps show when evidence was queried or recorded; references support auditability.

FieldMeaning
Checked timestampWhen SENTINEL queried or recorded that source evidence
Verification IDIdentifier of the normalized verification run and history record
Request ID / referenceAuthority-supplied reference when available, such as a KAS request reference
Registration numberOfficial entity identifier returned by the source
Dataset timestampSnapshot or dataset age may differ from request-time live API data
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08

KNOWLEDGE AREA

Reference

Reference#

Country input matrix

A compact comparison of the best identifiers and currently configured source capability.

Country input matrix based on the currently enabled product capability, not transient provider uptime.
CountryVAT fieldNational identifierBest inputConfigured capability
United KingdomGB VATCompany numberCompany number + VATCompanies House · HM Revenue & Customs
PolandPL VAT / NIPNIP or KRSVAT + NIP or KRSNational Court Register — KRS · Polish VAT Register — KAS · European Commission VIES — when VAT is supplied · European e-Justice — BRIS · reference only
CzechiaCZ VATIČOIČO + VAT when availableARES — Czech Ministry of Finance · European Commission VIES — when VAT is supplied · European e-Justice — BRIS · reference only
FinlandFI VATBusiness ID / Y-tunnusBusiness ID + VATPRH / YTJ Open Data · European Commission VIES — when VAT is supplied · European e-Justice — BRIS · reference only
FranceFR VATSIREN or SIRETSIREN + VATAPI Recherche d'entreprises · European Commission VIES — when VAT is supplied · European e-Justice — BRIS · reference only
SlovakiaSK VATIČOIČO + VATRegister of Legal Persons — RPO · European Commission VIES — when VAT is supplied · European e-Justice — BRIS · reference only
LatviaLV VATRegistration codeVAT + code if dataset enabledEuropean Commission VIES — when VAT is supplied · European e-Justice — BRIS · reference only
AustraliaNot used — GST is returned by ABRABN11-digit ABNAustralian Business Register — ABN Lookup
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Reference#

Supplier verification workflow

Use SENTINEL as an early evidence layer inside a broader supplier qualification process.

  1. 01
    Collect official details

    Ask for the legal name, jurisdiction, VAT number and national registration identifier.

  2. 02
    Verify in SENTINEL

    Use deterministic identifiers and run a new current check.

  3. 03
    Review legal entity

    Confirm the official name, identifier and legal status.

  4. 04
    Review VAT

    Read national and EU VAT evidence separately from legal status.

  5. 05
    Check consistency

    Investigate conflicts, missing identifiers and technical source failures.

  6. 06
    Export the PDF

    Attach the timestamped evidence summary to the internal onboarding record.

  7. 07
    Escalate exceptions

    Apply your organization's manual due-diligence and approval policy.

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Reference#

Good verification practices

Small habits that make official-source verification more reliable and reviewable.

Recommended

  • Prefer official identifiers over names
  • Confirm jurisdiction before entering identifiers
  • Keep VAT and company registration numbers in their correct fields
  • Provide VAT and national identifier together when available
  • Review each source independently instead of relying only on the headline
  • Re-run verification when evidence needs to be current
  • Use report timestamps and references when sharing results
  • Investigate conflicts and unavailable sources before drawing conclusions
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Reference#

Frequently asked questions

Fast answers to common questions about inputs, routing, evidence and reports.

Is company name required?

No. It can be optional when a deterministic official identifier is supplied. Use the registered legal name when you do provide it.

Is VAT required?

No. Supported national registry verification can work without VAT. VAT is required only when you want the applicable VAT check.

Can I verify with only VAT?

Yes for a supported EU or UK VAT number. The result may remain VAT-only if no legal registry can be resolved deterministically.

Can I verify with only a registration number?

Yes in supported jurisdictions when country and identifier format allow an exact registry lookup.

Why was VIES not checked?

VIES requires an applicable VAT number. A company name or national identifier alone does not activate VIES.

Why was the national registry not checked?

The country may not have an integrated adapter, or the workflow may lack the deterministic identifier required by that registry.

What does 3/3 mean?

Three applicable integrated evidence sources were positively confirmed. BRIS is not part of that count.

Why do I see 1/1?

Only one integrated evidence source was applicable to that query. The denominator is not a target shared by every country.

Why doesn't BRIS count?

SENTINEL exposes BRIS as coverage reference metadata, not an independent company lookup.

Can VIES be valid while a company is in liquidation?

Yes. VAT registration and legal status are separate facts and may change on different timelines.

What does HIGH confidence mean?

The returned authoritative evidence is strong and consistent under the decision rules. It is not a low-risk supplier score.

What does NOT CHECKED mean?

SENTINEL lacked enough deterministic information to run that source. It is not a failed check.

What does SOURCE UNAVAILABLE mean?

A provider could not complete the request. No negative conclusion should be drawn from that technical state.

What should I do with CONFLICTING DATA?

Review each official source, compare identifiers and timestamps, and escalate the discrepancy manually.

Are PDF reports stored?

No permanent PDF file is required. A report is generated on demand from the retained normalized verification record.

How current are results?

Read the checked timestamp and data mode. History remains a record of what the sources returned at that time.

Can results change later?

Yes. Legal status, VAT registration, data publication and provider availability can all change.

Is Australian GST a VAT number?

No. Select Australia and enter the ABN in the official identifier field. GST is reported as a separate fact from the same ABR response and is never routed to VIES.

Why does Australia say configuration required?

The official ABN Lookup integration needs registered server-side access before it can run. Until that configuration is complete, SENTINEL sends no request and draws no conclusion about the business.

Does an active ABN prove an active company?

No. It confirms the ABR registration facts returned for that ABN. It does not by itself confirm current ASIC company status or legal-entity existence.

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Glossary

Searchable definitions for identifiers, sources, evidence and data modes used by SENTINEL.

VAT
A tax-registration identifier. It is not automatically the company's legal registration number.
ABN
Australian Business Number: an 11-digit identifier validated with the official ABR checksum.
ACN
Australian Company Number: a related nine-digit company identifier that ABR may return; it is distinct from ABN.
GST
Australia's Goods and Services Tax registration fact. It is not an EU/UK VAT number.
DUL
Dubai Unified License identifier used in the official Invest in Dubai license search; it is not currently an automated SENTINEL source.
CR
Commercial Registration identifier used in several Middle East jurisdictions. Formats and legal meanings are country-specific.
VIES
European Commission VAT Information Exchange System for EU VAT validation.
NIP
Ten-digit Polish tax identifier used by KAS and in Polish VAT workflows.
KRS
Polish National Court Register and its ten-digit legal-entity identifier.
REGON
Polish statistical identifier that KAS or KRS may return.
IČO
Organisation identifier used in Czechia and Slovakia; it is not VAT by definition.
SIREN
Nine-digit identifier of a French legal unit.
SIRET
Fourteen-digit identifier of a French establishment; it includes the SIREN.
Business ID / Y-tunnus
Finnish national business identifier used by PRH/YTJ.
Companies House
The official UK company register.
HMRC
HM Revenue & Customs, used for supported UK VAT checks.
KAS
Polish National Revenue Administration VAT Register.
ARES
Czech Ministry of Finance economic-subject register interface.
PRH / YTJ
Finnish business information sources used for company identity and registration evidence.
RPO
Slovak Register of Legal Persons.
BRIS
European Business Registers Interconnection System; a reference layer in SENTINEL.
Legal entity
The organization recognized by the applicable company register.
National registry
An official country-level source for company identity and legal status.
Evidence
A normalized fact returned by a source, with attribution and timestamp.
Confidence
The quality and consistency of evidence under SENTINEL's decision rules.
Source reference
An authority-provided request or record identifier supporting auditability.
Data mode
How evidence was obtained: live, cached, sandbox, demo or dataset.
Reference
Coverage information that is visible but is not counted as verification evidence.
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Reference#

Product limitations

What SENTINEL intentionally does not claim or replace.

SENTINEL does not replace

  • Full legal due diligence
  • Sanctions screening or AML/KYC
  • Financial analysis or credit scoring
  • Beneficial ownership investigation unless a supported source specifically returns it
  • Litigation, insolvency or comprehensive compliance analysis
  • Legal, tax, financial, investment or transaction advice

SENTINEL provides an evidence-based company verification summary using available public and official sources. Results should be combined with your organization's risk, compliance and procurement controls.

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