Guides
Plain-language guides to EU e-invoicing rules, invoice formats, and everyday invoicing questions, written for freelancers and small businesses, not tax lawyers.
E-invoicing mandates
EU e-invoicing mandates: country-by-country deadlines
When does mandatory e-invoicing start in your country? A plain-language tracker of the EU e-invoicing deadlines (Germany, France, Belgium, Poland, Italy, Romania, Spain and the Netherlands) plus what the EU's ViDA reform changes.
E-invoicing in Germany: 2025, 2027 and 2028 deadlines explained
Germany's B2B e-invoicing mandate explained for freelancers and small businesses: who must receive e-invoices from 2025, who must issue from 2027 and 2028, the accepted formats (XRechnung, ZUGFeRD/Factur-X), and what is exempt.
E-invoicing in France: the 2026 and 2027 deadlines
France's mandatory e-invoicing (facturation électronique) explained: who must receive from September 2026, who must issue in 2026 and 2027, the certified-platform model that replaced the free state portal, and the accepted formats.
E-invoicing in Belgium: mandatory B2B from January 2026
Belgium made structured B2B e-invoicing mandatory from 1 January 2026 via the Peppol network. Who is covered, what the Peppol 4-corner model means, the accepted format, and who is out of scope.
Poland KSeF: the 2026 e-invoicing deadlines explained
Poland's KSeF makes structured e-invoicing mandatory in 2026. Who must use it from February and April 2026, the grace period before penalties in 2027, how the central clearance platform works, and who is out of scope.
E-invoicing in Spain: Crea y Crece and Verifactu explained
Spain has two separate digital-invoicing reforms that are easy to confuse: the Crea y Crece B2B e-invoicing mandate and the Verifactu billing-software rules. What each one is, who it covers, and the current (still-shifting) dates.
E-invoicing in Italy: SdI, FatturaPA and the non-resident rule
Italy was the EU's e-invoicing pioneer: mandatory for all B2B and B2C since 2019 via the SdI platform. How it works, the flat-rate (forfettario) inclusion, and why non-resident businesses are not obliged to use SdI.
E-invoicing in Romania: RO e-Factura and the 5-day rule
Romania's RO e-Factura is mandatory for B2B since 2024 and B2C since 2025. How the SPV clearance platform works, the submission deadline (now five working days), and where non-resident businesses stand.
Upcoming EU e-invoicing mandates: who's next
Beyond the big mandates, more EU countries are moving to e-invoicing. A clearly labelled round-up of what is binding versus merely proposed. Croatia, Portugal, Slovenia, Latvia, Estonia and the Netherlands.
Formats & standards
Factur-X vs ZUGFeRD: what's the difference?
Factur-X and ZUGFeRD are often described as different formats. From ZUGFeRD 2.1 / Factur-X 1.0 onwards they are technically identical, a hybrid PDF with embedded EN 16931 XML. Here's what that means and which name to use where.
What is Peppol, and do I need an access point?
Peppol is the network many EU countries use for mandatory e-invoicing. A plain-language explanation of Peppol, the 4-corner model, what an access point is, and how it differs from a government clearance platform.
What is EN 16931? The European e-invoice standard explained
EN 16931 is the European standard at the heart of every EU e-invoicing mandate. A plain-language explanation of what it is (and isn't), how XRechnung, Peppol BIS and Factur-X all relate to it, and why it matters for compliance.
UBL vs CII: the two e-invoice XML syntaxes explained
UBL and CII are the two XML syntaxes that express the European e-invoice standard EN 16931. What each one is, where they are used (Peppol uses UBL; ZUGFeRD/Factur-X uses CII), and which one you actually need.
XRechnung vs ZUGFeRD: which German e-invoice format?
XRechnung and ZUGFeRD are Germany's two e-invoice formats. XRechnung is pure XML; ZUGFeRD is a hybrid PDF with embedded XML. What that means in practice, which is required for the public sector, and which to use for B2B.
Invoicing how-to
Reverse charge invoices in the EU: when and how
When do you issue a reverse-charge invoice in the EU, and what must it say? A practical guide to the reverse-charge mechanism under Article 196 of the VAT Directive for cross-border B2B services, with the wording your invoice needs.
Best free invoice generator for EU freelancers (2026)
An honest comparison of free invoice tools for EU freelancers and small businesses, what to look for (EU VAT, reverse charge, no signup, your data), how the popular options differ, and where each one fits.