Mandatory e-invoicing for B2B invoices from 2026

The federal government has decided that a structured invoice (e-invoice) will be mandatory for B2B invoices from 2026. This means that every company needs suitable software for sending but also for receiving e-invoices. This e-invoicing no longer takes place via email, but via the European PEPPOL network.

onFact has supported e-invoicing since 2017, so users of our software do not need to make any special changes. They only need to activate their e-invoicing inbox and send sales invoices no longer via email, but via the specific PEPPOL network. Don't have a PEPPOL solution yet? With onFact you can start e-invoicing in just a few minutes!

To support this new legislation, the government has provided a 120% investment deduction. Your onFact subscription is therefore 120% deductible!

What is an e-invoice?

An e-invoice is more than a PDF. A PDF is really nothing more than a digital copy of a paper invoice. But these are difficult for the recipient to process automatically: what exactly is the invoice date, the amounts, the VAT rates, … ? Good AI algorithms exist for this (in onFact too), but this recognition is often complex. Besides a visual representation of the invoice, e-invoices also contain structured information that a computer can read very easily and correctly. This makes 100% automatic recognition of every invoice field possible.

What is PEPPOL?

PEPPOL is a network over which invoices can be sent and received, very similar to email, but only for business documents. Every company has an inbox with a particular address. This address is almost always based on a company's VAT number and/or company number (KBO). This way your invoicing software can easily look up the address of the other party. Specialised software, such as the onFact invoicing program, can then deliver a digital e-invoice to this address.

What are the benefits of PEPPOL?

This obligation need not be a disadvantage for your business; it even has some interesting benefits:

• Time savings: your purchase invoices all arrive in the same place, directly in your software: you no longer need to collect paper invoices, invoices by email, invoices via online portals, … they are automatically collected in your onFact account. Via onFact you also easily pass them on to your accountant: an enormous time saving for every business.
• More efficient processing: invoices are digitally readable: you never have to retype anything yourself; the program can read your invoice completely and take over all amounts, dates and, for example, payment information. With handy onFact features such as the QR code, the Ponto integration or the payment basket, you pay these invoices in no time.
• Security: every sender on the PEPPOL network is verified. So fake invoices can no longer be sent.
• Acknowledgement of receipt: when you send an invoice via the PEPPOL network, the recipient confirms its receipt. No more problems with emails that get lost or end up in SPAM.

Also for sales to consumers?

Are you a company that only sells to consumers? Then you will not need e-invoicing for sales to your customers. However, you will need to be able to receive e-invoices. This means that even as a B2C company, you will need specialised invoicing software.

Mandatory e-invoicing between businesses requires an adjustment in the administration of virtually every company. However, this adjustment will offer many benefits. So it pays not to wait until 2026 and to start e-invoicing now!