diff --git a/addons/partner_autocomplete/static/src/js/partner_autocomplete_many2one.js b/addons/partner_autocomplete/static/src/js/partner_autocomplete_many2one.js
index 059629010b8..83f2ce9ce0b 100644
--- a/addons/partner_autocomplete/static/src/js/partner_autocomplete_many2one.js
+++ b/addons/partner_autocomplete/static/src/js/partner_autocomplete_many2one.js
@@ -57,6 +57,19 @@ var PartnerField = FieldMany2One.extend({
         });
     },
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the display_name from a string which contains it but was altered
+     * as a result of the show_vat option.
+     * Note that the split is done on a 'figuredash', not a standard dash.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {string} value
+     * @returns {string} display_name without TaxID
+     */
+    _getDisplayNameWithoutVAT: function (value) {
+        return value.split(' ‒ ')[0];
+    },
+
     /**
      * Modify autocomplete results rendering
      * Add logo in the autocomplete results if logo is provided
@@ -91,6 +104,7 @@ var PartnerField = FieldMany2One.extend({
      * @private
      */
     _renderEdit: function (){
+        this.m2o_value = this._getDisplayNameWithoutVAT(this.m2o_value);
         this._super.apply(this, arguments);
         this._modifyAutompleteRendering();
     },
diff --git a/odoo/addons/base/models/res_partner.py b/odoo/addons/base/models/res_partner.py
index 9b29bab628f..1aebd76fd0e 100644
--- a/odoo/addons/base/models/res_partner.py
+++ b/odoo/addons/base/models/res_partner.py
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ class Partner(models.Model):
         if self._context.get('html_format'):
             name = name.replace('\n', '<br/>')
         if self._context.get('show_vat') and partner.vat:
-            name = "%s - %s" % (name, partner.vat)
+            name = "%s ‒ %s" % (name, partner.vat)
         return name
 
     @api.multi