TL;DR,
- Since 1 January 2026 structured e-invoicing is mandatory for B2B transactions between VAT-registered Belgian businesses. A PDF sent by email is no longer compliant.
- The required standard is Peppol BIS (a structured format compliant with the European standard EN 16931), transmitted via the Peppol network.
- Odoo handles Peppol natively. If you are already on Odoo, you are a few settings away from full compliance, no new software needed.
- Beyond compliance, this brings real productivity gains: less manual data entry, faster payments, and reliable accounting data. Nexuro supports you every step of the way.
What is Peppol e-invoicing, in plain terms?
An e-invoice is not a PDF sent by email. A PDF is essentially an image: a person has to read it and re-key the data.
A Peppol e-invoice is a structured file: the data (amount, VAT, customer number, line items) is readable directly by accounting software. No re-keying. No transcription errors.
Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement OnLine) is the network that carries these invoices from one business to another. Think of it like a telephone network: each business has a Peppol “address,” and invoices flow automatically between service providers (known as “Access Points”).
The invoice format itself is called Peppol BIS. It complies with the European standard EN 16931. This is what Belgian law now requires.
Is e-invoicing really mandatory in Belgium in 2026?
Yes. From 1 January 2026, the sending and receiving of structured e-invoices is mandatory for B2B transactions between VAT-registered Belgian businesses.
A few key points to bear in mind:
- The obligation covers domestic B2B transactions: Belgian VAT-registered business to Belgian VAT-registered business.
- There is no B2C obligation (sales to private individuals) at this stage.
- Transactions exempt under Article 44 of the VAT Code remain out of scope.
- A conditional tolerance period was introduced for the first quarter of 2026, for businesses that can demonstrate a technical delay beyond their control. This is not a postponement, it is a limited safety net.
And this is only the first step. Belgium is preparing e-reporting (near-real-time transmission of VAT data to the tax authorities), expected from 2028. In other words: getting compliant now means being ready for what comes next.
In short: if you invoice other Belgian businesses, you must send and receive Peppol invoices. A PDF by email is no longer compliant.
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The Belgian tax authority has introduced progressive penalties for failure to comply:
| Infringement | Fine |
|---|---|
| 1st infringement | €1,500 |
| 2nd infringement | €3,000 |
| Subsequent infringements | €5,000 per infringement |
Beyond the fine, the real risk is operational: a compliant customer may refuse a non-structured invoice. No valid invoice, no payment. Compliance is not just a legal matter, it is a cash-flow matter.
Peppol vs PDF by email: what does it mean for my business?
This is the question every business owner asks. Here is the direct comparison.
| Criterion | PDF by email (old world) | Peppol BIS (mandatory from 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Image, unstructured | Structured data, machine-readable |
| Belgian B2B compliance 2026 | Non-compliant | Compliant |
| Data entry on the recipient side | Manual, error-prone | Automatic |
| Processing time | Slow | Near-instant |
| Risk of error / dispute | High | Low |
| Tracking & traceability | Low (email inbox) | Certified network, delivery acknowledgement |
| Payment impact | Frequent delays | Faster payments |
Switching to Peppol is not just a legal constraint. It means less administrative work, fewer errors, and faster payments.
Does Odoo handle Peppol natively?
Yes. This is the point many business owners miss: if your company is already running on Odoo you already have the essentials in place.
Odoo integrates Peppol BIS invoice sending and receiving directly within the Accounting / Invoicing module. Odoo acts as your Access Point: you register your business on the Peppol network from within Odoo, and your invoices are sent in the correct format, to the correct address, automatically.
In practice, this means:
- No additional software to purchase or connect.
- No double data entry: the invoice created in Odoo is already the Peppol invoice.
- Automatic receipt of supplier Peppol invoices directly into your accounting.
This is precisely the kind of situation where Nexuro steps in: turning a tool you are already paying for into a system that is genuinely used compliant, and connected to your revenue.
How to activate Peppol in Odoo: the concrete steps
Here is a typical implementation journey. It is straightforward, provided you follow the correct order and verify each setting.
| Step | Action | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check your company's legal data in Odoo (VAT number, address, IBAN) | Incorrect data will block Peppol registration |
| 2 | Enable e-invoicing in the Accounting settings | Activates the EN 16931 / Peppol BIS structured format |
| 3 | Register your company on the Peppol network from within Odoo (Access Point) | Gives you your Peppol “address” for sending and receiving |
| 4 | Complete your customer records (VAT number, Peppol identifier) | Without a valid identifier, the invoice cannot be sent |
| 5 | Send a test invoice to a customer or partner | Validates the end-to-end chain before going live |
| 6 | Configure the receipt of supplier Peppol invoices | Compliance goes both ways: sending AND receiving |
| 7 | Train your accounting and sales teams on the new workflow | A well-configured tool that is poorly used remains ineffective |
The technical side is quick. The real value lies in the details: clean legal data, complete customer records, and a workflow your team has genuinely mastered.
What does it cost, and is there any tax relief?
Good news: the Belgian government has introduced tax incentives to offset the transition to e-invoicing.
- An enhanced deduction of 120% on invoicing software subscription costs is available for SMEs and self-employed individuals for the taxable periods 2024 to 2027 (subject to conditions, including that the cost related to e-invoicing is listed separately).
- A 20% digital investment deduction also applies to digital investments.
In other words: part of the cost of becoming compliant is supported by tax relief. Now is the right time to get structured, not merely to tick the box.
The exact conditions are evolving and depend on your situation. Always confirm eligibility with your accountant or with us before committing to any expenditure.
Am I affected if I am already on Odoo… but not really using it?
This is the most common situation we encounter in the field: Odoo is installed, but underused. Accounting in one corner, sales in another, and nobody overseeing the whole.
The Peppol obligation is, paradoxically, an opportunity. To activate Peppol properly, you need to bring order to your data: customers, VAT, invoicing workflows. Once that foundation is clean, you gain far more than compliance:
- Invoices that go out automatically in the correct format.
- Reliable accounting connected to your sales.
- Actionable data to manage your business, not just to invoice.
This is our conviction at Nexuro: a tool is only worth what it is genuinely used for and how it connects to your revenue. Peppol compliance is the ideal trigger to finally get the most out of Odoo.
Why work with Nexuro?
We have been an Official Odoo Partner for 4 years and both our founders are Odoo 19 Functional certified. We implement Odoo end to end: CRM, Sales, Marketing, Project, Invoicing, and Peppol.
Our approach:
- Understand your business not just tick a compliance box.
- Build a system: compliant invoicing, connected to your accounting and your sales.
- Implement with rigour and transparency: everything is documented, explained, and handed over. You stay in control.
No bots, no sales reps. Timothy or Bryan replies to you personally, within 24h.
Take action with confidence
E-invoicing is mandatory. But handled well, it is above all a gain in time, reliability, and cash flow.
Want to know where you stand? We offer a free, no-obligation audit of your Odoo configuration and Peppol compliance. We review together what is ready, what is missing, and what you can activate within a few days.
Let's keep it simple. Get my free audit →
Frequently asked questions
Is Peppol e-invoicing mandatory in Belgium?
Yes. From 1 January 2026, the sending and receiving of structured e-invoices is mandatory for B2B transactions between VAT-registered Belgian businesses. The required format is Peppol BIS, compliant with the European standard EN 16931. A PDF by email is no longer compliant. Sales to private individuals (B2C) are not affected at this stage.
How do I activate Peppol in Odoo?
Odoo handles Peppol natively, with no additional software required. Check your legal data (VAT number, IBAN), enable e-invoicing in the Accounting settings, then register your company on the Peppol network from within Odoo, which acts as your Access Point. Complete your customer records, send a test invoice, and configure the receipt of incoming invoices. Compliance goes both ways: sending and receiving.
Does Odoo handle Peppol natively?
Yes. If your company is already running on Odoo, you already have the essentials in place. Odoo integrates Peppol BIS invoice sending and receiving directly within the Accounting / Invoicing module, and acts as your Access Point on the Peppol network. No additional software to purchase, no double data entry: the invoice created in Odoo is already the Peppol invoice.
What fines are at risk for Peppol non-compliance?
The Belgian tax authority applies progressive penalties: €1,500 for the first infringement, €3,000 for the second, then €5,000 per subsequent infringement. But the real risk is operational: a compliant customer may refuse a non-structured invoice. No valid invoice, no payment. Compliance is therefore as much a cash-flow issue as a legal one.
When does VAT e-reporting come into effect in Belgium?
B2B e-invoicing has been mandatory since 1 January 2026. The next step is e-reporting: near-real-time transmission of VAT data to the tax authorities, expected from 2028. Getting compliant now means being ready for what follows. The precise conditions are evolving, confirm your situation with your accountant or with us.
