Bug?: VAT check always kicks in even if VAT is empty

In Germany (and I think also in other European countries) you can be a company and not have a VAT ID (this is primarily for small businesses).

However when having VAT check enabled and the VAT is empty it is still checked.
So, even though legit data is entered in invoice address an error for an invalid VAT is shown to the subscriber (which is pretty irritating).
It looks that the VAT is added to the invoice as usual for a business without a VAT ID (which is fine).

How can I configure it so that the VAT is only checked if not empty?

If this is not possible it is definitely a bug because it does not reflect the tax business inside the EU.

c_schmitz wrote: In Germany (and I think also in other European countries) you can be a company and not have a VAT ID (this is primarily for small businesses).

However when having VAT check enabled and the VAT is empty it is still checked.
So, even though legit data is entered in invoice address an error for an invalid VAT is shown to the subscriber (which is pretty irritating).
It looks that the VAT is added to the invoice as usual for a business without a VAT ID (which is fine).

How can I configure it so that the VAT is only checked if not empty?

If this is not possible it is definitely a bug because it does not reflect the tax business inside the EU.

How have you configured your Tax rate?

Specifically, the parameters i the area:
Validation for business (B2B) conditions

Yes, it is set to

EU VAT: Online check with EU VAT Server

c_schmitz wrote: Yes, it is set to

EU VAT: Online check with EU VAT Server

Just tested here on my environment and I see nothing wrong.

Please PM me superadmin access and I will take a look at your setup.

So: You did enter a company name, address and no VAT ID and after save you did not get a warning?

c_schmitz wrote: So: You did enter a company name, address and no VAT ID and after save you did not get a warning?

Yup - no issue on my testing.

Will try again based on the settings you shared with me.