diff --git a/src/pretix/base/forms/questions.py b/src/pretix/base/forms/questions.py
index 1744641b7..bef3b949e 100644
--- a/src/pretix/base/forms/questions.py
+++ b/src/pretix/base/forms/questions.py
@@ -1044,7 +1044,11 @@ class BaseInvoiceAddressForm(forms.ModelForm):
                 self.instance.vat_id_validated = True
                 self.instance.vat_id = normalized_id
             except VATIDFinalError as e:
-                raise ValidationError(e.message)
+                if self.all_optional:
+                    self.instance.vat_id_validated = False
+                    messages.warning(self.request, e.message)
+                else:
+                    raise ValidationError(e.message)
             except VATIDTemporaryError as e:
                 self.instance.vat_id_validated = False
                 if self.request and self.vat_warning:
diff --git a/src/pretix/base/views/mixins.py b/src/pretix/base/views/mixins.py
index a4a2e0699..0dbca1412 100644
--- a/src/pretix/base/views/mixins.py
+++ b/src/pretix/base/views/mixins.py
@@ -355,20 +355,29 @@ class OrderQuestionsViewMixin(BaseQuestionsViewMixin):
                 override[k].pop('initial', None)
         return override_sets
 
+    @cached_property
+    def vat_id_validation_enabled(self):
+        return any([p.item.tax_rule and (p.item.tax_rule.eu_reverse_charge or p.item.tax_rule.custom_rules)
+                    for p in self.positions])
+
     @cached_property
     def invoice_form(self):
         if not self.address_asked and self.request.event.settings.invoice_name_required:
             f = self.invoice_name_form_class(
                 data=self.request.POST if self.request.method == "POST" else None,
                 event=self.request.event,
-                instance=self.invoice_address, validate_vat_id=False,
+                instance=self.invoice_address,
+                validate_vat_id=False,
+                request=self.request,
                 all_optional=self.all_optional
             )
         elif self.address_asked:
             f = self.invoice_form_class(
                 data=self.request.POST if self.request.method == "POST" else None,
                 event=self.request.event,
-                instance=self.invoice_address, validate_vat_id=False,
+                instance=self.invoice_address,
+                validate_vat_id=self.vat_id_validation_enabled,
+                request=self.request,
                 all_optional=self.all_optional,
             )
         else: