diff --git a/app/Models/Customer.php b/app/Models/Customer.php
index 30d50dd..75df32d 100644
--- a/app/Models/Customer.php
+++ b/app/Models/Customer.php
@@ -15,9 +15,14 @@ use RuntimeException;
 class Customer extends Model
 {
     /** Comparable form: spaces and punctuation are cosmetic in a VAT number. */
+    public static function normaliseVatId(?string $value): string
+    {
+        return strtoupper(preg_replace('/[\s.-]+/', '', (string) $value) ?? '');
+    }
+
     public function normalisedVatId(): string
     {
-        return strtoupper(preg_replace('/[\s.-]+/', '', (string) $this->vat_id) ?? '');
+        return self::normaliseVatId($this->vat_id);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -27,9 +32,11 @@ class Customer extends Model
      */
     public function hasVerifiedVatId(): bool
     {
+        // Both sides normalised: a verifier that stores the number in display
+        // form ("DE 811 907 980") must not invalidate a genuine confirmation.
         return $this->vat_id_verified_at !== null
             && $this->normalisedVatId() !== ''
-            && $this->normalisedVatId() === strtoupper((string) $this->vat_id_verified_value);
+            && $this->normalisedVatId() === self::normaliseVatId($this->vat_id_verified_value);
     }
 
     /** @use HasFactory<\Database\Factories\CustomerFactory> */
@@ -43,7 +50,7 @@ class Customer extends Model
 
     protected function casts(): array
     {
-        return ['closed_at' => 'datetime'];
+        return ['closed_at' => 'datetime', 'vat_id_verified_at' => 'datetime'];
     }
 
     public function seats(): HasMany
diff --git a/tests/Feature/CartTest.php b/tests/Feature/CartTest.php
index c0e3ca8..ae83d52 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/CartTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/CartTest.php
@@ -184,6 +184,26 @@ it('charges domestic VAT to a domestic business and to private customers', funct
         ->assertSee(__('billing.cart.vat', ['percent' => '20']));
 });
 
+it('accepts a verified value stored in display form', function () {
+    config()->set('provisioning.tax.rate_percent', 20);
+    config()->set('provisioning.tax.seller_country', 'AT');
+
+    [$customer, ] = cartCustomer();
+    Order::factory()->for($customer)->create(['type' => 'storage', 'amount_cents' => 1000, 'status' => 'pending']);
+
+    // A verifier may hand back the number the way it prints it; spaces are
+    // cosmetic and must not invalidate a genuine confirmation.
+    $customer->update([
+        'vat_id' => 'DE811907980',
+        'vat_id_verified_at' => now(),
+        'vat_id_verified_value' => 'DE 811 907 980',
+    ]);
+
+    expect($customer->fresh()->hasVerifiedVatId())->toBeTrue()
+        ->and($customer->fresh()->vat_id_verified_at)->toBeInstanceOf(Illuminate\Support\Carbon::class)
+        ->and(Order::query()->first()->fresh()->grossCents())->toBe(1000);
+});
+
 it('will not let a typed-in VAT ID zero the tax', function () {
     config()->set('provisioning.tax.rate_percent', 20);
     config()->set('provisioning.tax.seller_country', 'AT');