Europe's vision for e-invoicing: A golden opportunity for Belgian entrepreneurs

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Starting in 2028, B2B e-invoicing and e-reporting will become mandatory in Europe. E-invoicing, or electronic invoicing, means that outgoing and incoming invoices are created, sent and received digitally. In doing so, you must use a structured UBL/XML format according to the European standard. To create or receive e-invoices, you need software that automatically converts invoices into legally valid digital invoices. Several accounting and invoicing programs offer solutions for this.

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Each EU country is free to decide how quickly and to what extent to implement this requirement. Spain, for example, uses a QR code on the invoice before it is delivered, while in Italy every invoice is first provided to the government before they forward it to the recipient.

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In Belgium, however, there is still much uncertainty. So far, only a policy document has been drafted stating the intention for e-invoicing and e-reporting. It is still unknown exactly how this obligation will be introduced, when and what impact it will have on Belgian companies.

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The accountant as a strategic partner in the digital age

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In a world where data sharing is crucial, the role of accountants is becoming more important than ever. The government is encouraging the electronic exchange of data over a secure and accessible network, allowing data to go directly into accounting systems and be processed efficiently.

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"Everyone says data is gold, but you have to turn it into gold. And there lies for the role of the accountant, in my opinion, a gigantic opportunity." Hans Leybaert, CEO of Unifiedpost Group

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E-invoicing and e-reporting offer accountants a wealth of information. This allows them to provide more targeted advice to business owners, transforming them into strategic partners.

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As an accountant, you will not only have access to VAT data, but you will also gain insight into all the details of the invoice. An accountant has the expertise to analyze and interpret complex and large amounts of data. Using this data correctly means providing your entrepreneur with much more targeted advice to continue to grow and develop. Think of financial reports based on data analysis or optimizing business processes using data analysis methods.

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For business owners: leverage the benefits of e-invoicing and prepare for the future

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Good preparation for the 2028 requirement of e-invoicing and e-reporting is essential. Make sure you understand what these developments mean for your business and what impact they will have. If you're still using traditional paper invoicing or invoicing via email and PDF, it's time to consider switching to electronic invoicing.

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E-invoicing is currently already mandatory in certain situations in Belgium, such as business-to-government (B2G) transactions. As of 2024, e-invoicing would become legally mandatory for SMEs, freelancers and the self-employed in a secondary occupation. Business-to-consumer (B2C) invoicing would also be subject to e-invoicing from 2024, although there are still many uncertainties here.

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"A model may emerge like the white box office systems: first a proforma invoice that you approve and then the official invoice." Hans Leybaert, CEO of Unifiedpost Group

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By investing in e-invoicing now, you put your company on the path to modernization and optimize your administrative processes. Choose an invoicing program that suits your business and reap the benefits, such as sending invoices automatically, tracking payment status and saving time for your projects and customers.

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"We are entering a digital world where there is also a push from the government to exchange data electronically instead of document format, pdf, where we are effectively going to exchange XML data." Hans Leybaert, CEO of Unifiedpost Group

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With Billtobox, you are on your way to complying with the upcoming B2B e-invoicing: receiving, processing and sending electronic invoices and payments from 1 platform. By taking steps now, you will be better prepared for the obligations of the future and benefit from the advantages offered by e-invoicing and e-reporting.