diff --git a/addons/website_sale/controllers/main.py b/addons/website_sale/controllers/main.py
index 6df34f232b4..34ec5711bc6 100644
--- a/addons/website_sale/controllers/main.py
+++ b/addons/website_sale/controllers/main.py
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ class website_sale(http.Controller):
         return values
 
     mandatory_billing_fields = ["name", "phone", "email", "street", "city", "country_id", "zip"]
-    optional_billing_fields = ["street2", "state_id"]
+    optional_billing_fields = ["street2", "state_id", "vat"]
     mandatory_shipping_fields = ["name", "phone", "street", "city", "country_id", "zip"]
     optional_shipping_fields = ["state_id"]
 
@@ -355,6 +355,17 @@ class website_sale(http.Controller):
             if not data.get(field_name):
                 error[field_name] = 'missing'
 
+        if data.get("vat") and hasattr(registry["res.partner"], "check_vat"):
+            if request.website.company_id.vat_check_vies:
+                # force full VIES online check
+                check_func = registry["res.partner"].vies_vat_check
+            else:
+                # quick and partial off-line checksum validation
+                check_func = registry["res.partner"].simple_vat_check
+            vat_country, vat_number = registry["res.partner"]._split_vat(data.get("vat"))
+            if not check_func(cr, uid, vat_country, vat_number, context=None): # simple_vat_check
+                error["vat"] = 'error'
+
         if data.get("shipping_different"):
             for field_name in self.mandatory_shipping_fields:
                 field_name = 'shipping_' + field_name
diff --git a/addons/website_sale/views/templates.xml b/addons/website_sale/views/templates.xml
index 8e96628c38b..b89b4bd50b5 100644
--- a/addons/website_sale/views/templates.xml
+++ b/addons/website_sale/views/templates.xml
@@ -704,6 +704,11 @@
                       <label class="control-label" for="street2" style="font-weight: normal">Company Name</label>
                       <input type="text" name="street2" class="form-control" t-att-value="checkout.get('street2')"/>
                   </div>
+                  <div class="col-lg-6"> </div>
+                  <div t-attf-class="form-group #{error.get('vat') and 'has-error' or ''} col-lg-6">
+                      <label class="control-label" for="vat" style="font-weight: normal">VAT Number</label>
+                      <input type="text" name="vat" class="form-control" t-att-value="checkout.get('vat')"/>
+                  </div>
                   <div t-attf-class="form-group #{error.get('email') and 'has-error' or ''} col-lg-6">
                       <label class="control-label" for="contact_name">Email</label>
                       <input type="email" name="email" class="form-control" t-att-value="checkout.get('email')"/>