Belgium E-Invoicing Compliance: Happy New Year?

Belgium isn’t waiting until 2030 to go digital. From January 1, 2026, every domestic B2B transaction between VAT-registered entities will need to be sent and received as a structured electronic invoice via Peppol. For finance leaders, that means new compliance rules, new workflows, and—done right—an opportunity to streamline AP once and for all.

TL;DR

Belgium’s 2026 e-invoicing mandate will make structured e-invoices mandatory for all domestic B2B transactions. Compliance requires using Peppol and the EN 16931 standard. CFOs can minimize disruption and risk by automating AP processes, integrating with Peppol, and partnering with a vendor that supports multi-country compliance.

Compliance Is No Longer Optional

Belgium’s e-invoicing shift is part of the EU’s VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative, which aims to modernize VAT collection and close the tax gap across all 27 member states by 2030.

For CFOs, the mandate isn’t just a tax compliance update—it’s an operational one. Paper or PDF invoices will no longer be valid for domestic B2B transactions. Every invoice will need to flow through Peppol in the EN 16931 structured format.

That means finance teams must:

• Adapt invoice creation and receipt processes to meet Peppol standards.
• Integrate AP systems with Peppol access points.
• Ensure data accuracy for VAT and invoice content.
• Track and report on transactions within the mandated structure.

For organizations running legacy or decentralized AP systems, that can quickly turn into a compliance bottleneck.

Automate Compliance Without Adding Burden

CFOs shouldn’t have to manage Peppol registration forms or XML schemas. The right finance automation platform eliminates that complexity by embedding compliance directly into your AP workflows.

With an end-to-end AP automation solution, you can:

• Generate and receive structured invoices automatically in the correct Peppol format.
• Route invoices through your approval hierarchy with full auditability.
• Validate VAT data against Belgium’s compliance rules.
• Centralize global invoicing across multiple jurisdictions, including future mandates under ViDA.

Automation ensures compliance is consistent, not manual—so your finance team stays focused on strategy, not syntax.

What’s Coming in Belgium’s 2026 Rollout

• B2G mandate: Already live since 2024 for most public contracts above €3,000.
• B2B mandate: Effective January 1, 2026, requiring all domestic B2B invoices between VAT-registered entities to use Peppol.
• Post-audit model: Companies must retain invoices and data for auditability.
• Upcoming e-reporting: Expected in 2028, aligning Belgium with ViDA’s digital reporting vision.

Non-compliance could mean rejected invoices, payment delays, and potential penalties. Early adoption gives CFOs control—rather than scrambling for last-minute workarounds.

How Finance Leaders Can Prepare Now

1. Audit your invoicing process: Identify where manual steps or PDF invoices still exist. Any domestic B2B invoice issued outside Peppol will be non-compliant after 2025.
2. Integrate AP automation: Choose a platform that supports Peppol connectivity, EN 16931 compliance, and multi-country mandates. Your goal: one unified system for all jurisdictions.
3. Coordinate with your suppliers and customers: Both parties need to exchange invoices through Peppol. Communicate your readiness plan and confirm trading partners’ capabilities.
4. Align finance and IT: Involve IT early to ensure ERP integrations, access point connectivity, and data mapping meet Belgium’s standards.
5. Build for scalability: Use Belgium’s rollout as a blueprint for ViDA readiness. France and Poland will go live around the same time—automation ensures you don’t repeat the project country by country.

The CFO Advantage: From Compliance to Control

Belgium’s e-invoicing rules aren’t just another regulatory hurdle—they’re a chance to modernize how finance operates. By automating compliance now, CFOs can:

• Reduce manual invoice handling costs.
• Shorten approval cycles and payment times.
• Strengthen VAT accuracy and audit readiness.
• Future-proof AP for upcoming EU mandates.

Make Compliance Effortless

Stay ahead of Belgium’s 2026 e-invoicing mandate. Book a demo with SoftCo to see how our Peppol-ready AP Automation platform helps you achieve compliance, efficiency, and control—without the complexity.

External References

European Commission ViDA initiative
Belgian Federal Public Service Finance (SPF Finances)
Peppol official documentation