diff --git a/utils/stripe_utils.py b/utils/stripe_utils.py
index 2cadefd2..72f04352 100644
--- a/utils/stripe_utils.py
+++ b/utils/stripe_utils.py
@@ -437,9 +437,13 @@ class StripeUtils(object):
 
     @handleStripeError
     def create_tax_id_for_user(self, stripe_customer_id, vat_number, type="eu_vat"):
-        tax_id_obj = stripe.Customer.create_tax_id(
-            stripe_customer_id,
-            type=type,
-            value=vat_number,
+        tax_id_obj = stripe.Customer.retrieve(
+            stripe_customer_id,type=type, value=vat_number
         )
+        if tax_id_obj["response_object"]["error"]:
+            tax_id_obj = stripe.Customer.create_tax_id(
+                stripe_customer_id,
+                type=type,
+                value=vat_number,
+            )
         return tax_id_obj