What is the history of the bill? 

From clay tablets in Mesopotamia to automated e-invoices in the 21st century, the invoice has come a long way.

The introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) in the 1960s had a significant impact on the way invoices were prepared and processed. VAT, a form of indirect tax levied on sales of goods and services, was first introduced in France in 1954 and then gradually introduced in other European countries, including Belgium in 1971. The invoice is the document used to calculate VAT. 

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‍Whatdifferent types of invoices exist?

There are several types of invoices, including:

• Standard Invoice: for regular transactions.
• Credit note: an invoice that reflects a refund.
• Debit note: an invoice that requests additional payment.

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How long should I keep an invoice? 

In Belgium, it is mandatory to keep invoices for 10 years. This obligation applies to both paper and electronic invoices and is intended for transparency and auditability in the event of a tax audit or legal disputes. It is perfectly legal to archive a scan or a copy of an original invoice as long as the origin and integrity of the invoice is guaranteed. Thanks to Billtobox your invoices are kept in a legal archive. 

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Can an invoice be time-barred?

The statute of limitations for an invoice varies depending on the type of invoice. For business invoices (B2B), the statute of limitations is usually 10 years. For payment obligations in a private context (B2C), the statute of limitations is usually 1 year. In some cases, however, the statute of limitations may be different; discuss this with your accountant.

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What is an electronic invoice or e-invoice?

An electronic invoice, or e-invoice, is an invoice sent and received in a structured electronic format. E-invoices must meet specific legal requirements to be considered a legal document and are mandatory for all as of Jan. 1, 2026. They offer benefits such as faster processing, lower costs and less chance of errors compared to paper invoices.

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What is Hermes?

Hermes is a solution offered by the Belgian government to ease the transition to electronic invoicing for companies. It enables companies to send electronic invoices to all their customers, regardless of the customer's preferred format. Hermes ensures that companies comply with the new e-invoicing mandates while remaining flexible and user-friendly. With the rise of mandatory e-invoicing, Hermes is expected to die out. 

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‍Whatis Mercurius?

Mercurius is the Belgian government's central platform for sending and receiving electronic invoices (e-invoices) in transactions between companies and government agencies (B2G). You can best compare Mercurius to a post office where all government invoices arrive and from where they are further distributed to the various authorities (federal, regional, local) and government agencies. 

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