By Timothy Jacqmin, Co-Founder, Nexuro Digital · July 2026
TL;DR
- Since 1 January 2026, structured electronic invoicing has been mandatory between VAT-registered businesses in Belgium (B2B), via the Peppol network: a PDF sent by email is no longer enough.
- Peppol isn't a piece of software but a network: your invoices travel from one access point to another in a standard format (Peppol BIS), rather like an email between two servers.
- The number-one thing to do in mid-2026: check that your business is properly registered and reachable on the Peppol Directory (the public directory), using your company number (BCE/KBO).
- Being compliant comes down to 4 steps: choose a solution connected to Peppol → register your ID → test sending and receiving → go live.
- The good news: most accounting software and ERPs (including Odoo) are already connected to Peppol, so it's often mainly a matter of switching it on and configuring it correctly.
If you run a Belgian SME, the question is no longer 'should we move to electronic invoicing?' but 'am I actually compliant, and how do I check?'. Since 1 January 2026, the obligation has applied to B2B transactions between VAT-registered businesses, and many companies set it up in a hurry, without ever confirming that everything really works.
This guide takes stock in mid-2026: where the obligation currently stands, how to check in two minutes that you're reachable on Peppol, and what to do if you're missing a step. For a step-by-step explanation of how it works, see our article What is Peppol? ; for the full regulatory framework, Mandatory electronic invoicing in Belgium.
Where does the Peppol obligation in Belgium stand in 2026?
Since 1 January 2026, every Belgian VAT-registered business must issue and receive its B2B invoices as structured electronic files via Peppol, and no longer as PDF or paper. The obligation covers transactions between businesses established in Belgium; some situations (certain exempt taxable persons, specific operations) are subject to exceptions, but the general principle applies very broadly to SMEs.
In practice, an 'electronic invoice' in the legal sense is not a PDF: it's a structured file (Peppol BIS / UBL format) that software reads automatically. A PDF, even sent by email, is still just an image to a machine: it no longer satisfies the obligation. This is the fundamental change that many underestimate.
Key point: the obligation is about the structured format and the Peppol channel, not simply about 'going paperless'. Sending a nice PDF does not make you compliant.
What is Peppol, in one minute?
Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line) is a secure international network for exchanging business documents, mainly invoices, in a standard format, between partners who don't know each other in advance. The best analogy is email: you don't need to know which software your customer uses; it's enough for each party to be connected to the network via an access point (Access Point).
Each business is identified there by a Peppol ID: in Belgium, usually based on your company number (BCE/KBO). It's this identifier that lets a supplier 'find' you and send you an invoice directly in your software.
How do I check that I'm reachable on Peppol?
The simplest way is to search for your business in the Peppol Directory (the network's public directory) using your company number: if you appear there with the right supported documents, you're registered and reachable. This is the test every business owner should run today, before asking any other questions.
Here's the check in 3 points:
| What to check | How | If it's not right |
|---|---|---|
| Presence in the directory | Search for your company number on the Peppol Directory | Your solution hasn't (yet) registered your ID → contact your provider |
| Supported documents | The listing should show invoice reception (Invoice) | The configuration is incomplete → enable reception |
| Real test | Issue and receive a test invoice | If it fails → check the access point / the format |
Don't rely on 'it's been installed': until you've received a genuine test invoice, you don't know whether the chain works end to end.
How to get (or get back) compliant? The 4 steps
Getting compliant with Peppol comes down to four simple steps, in order:
- Choose a solution connected to Peppol: an accounting package or an ERP with a built-in access point (or a dedicated access point). Most tools on the market now offer this.
- Register your Peppol ID: your company number is declared on the network so that others can reach you.
- Test both sending AND receiving: a test invoice in each direction, to validate the whole chain.
- Go live and monitor: switch over your real flows and keep an eye on rejections and errors during the first few weeks.
None of these steps requires being an IT specialist, but each one can snag on a detail (format, data mapping, VAT). That's often where guidance saves you weeks.
Which software to choose, and the Odoo case
Most modern ERPs and accounting packages are already linked to Peppol, so the real question isn't so much 'which one connects me' as 'which one handles everything else well' (quotes, stock, accounting, CRM) around the invoice. Choosing your tool solely for Peppol would be like choosing a car for its cup holder.
That's the case with Odoo, which supports Peppol natively: once switched on and configured, sending and receiving happen from the same place as your sales, purchases and accounting. We cover the setup in Peppol in Odoo: the guide. And if you're thinking of streamlining all your tools around a single system while you're at it, Migrating to Odoo sets out the steps and the pitfalls.
FAQ
Is Peppol mandatory in Belgium in 2026?
Yes. Since 1 January 2026, structured electronic invoicing has been mandatory for B2B transactions between Belgian VAT-registered businesses, via the Peppol network. A PDF sent by email no longer meets the obligation: you need a structured format (Peppol BIS/UBL) exchanged over the network. A few exceptions exist, but the obligation applies broadly to SMEs.
How do I check my Peppol ID or whether I'm registered?
Search for your business in the Peppol Directory, the network's public directory, using your company number (BCE/KBO). If you appear there and your listing shows support for invoice reception, you're registered and reachable. If not, your software or access point hasn't finalised the registration: contact your provider. The decisive test is still receiving a genuine test invoice.
Is a PDF sent by email enough to be compliant?
No. Since 2026, an invoice in the legal sense must be a structured, machine-readable file (Peppol BIS/UBL format), exchanged via the Peppol network. A PDF, even a clean one sent by email, is still an unstructured image: it doesn't satisfy the B2B obligation. This is the most common and most risky misconception.
What's the difference between Peppol and electronic invoicing?
Electronic invoicing means issuing invoices in a structured format; Peppol is the standardised network that carries them from one business to another, whatever their software. In other words: electronic invoicing is the 'what', Peppol is the 'how it travels'. In Belgium, the 2026 obligation relies precisely on Peppol.
How much does Peppol compliance cost for an SME?
The cost depends mainly on your existing software. If your ERP or accounting tool already supports Peppol (like Odoo), it's often a matter of activation and configuration, for a modest cost. If you need to switch tools or add an access point, the investment is higher but usually comes with a worthwhile modernisation (accounting, stock, CRM). An audit of your situation makes it possible to cost this out precisely.
Does Odoo support Peppol natively?
Yes. Odoo supports Peppol: once the ID is registered and the feature is switched on, issuing and receiving electronic invoices happen from the same environment as your sales, purchases and accounting. The whole point of an ERP like Odoo is precisely to avoid bolting on a separate 'Peppol' tool: the invoice stays connected to the rest of your operations.
Sources
- FPS Finance (Belgium): Mandatory B2B electronic invoicing: https://finances.belgium.be/fr/entreprises/tva/facturation-electronique
- Peppol (OpenPeppol): What is Peppol?: https://peppol.org/what-is-peppol/
- Peppol Directory: Public directory of Peppol participants: https://directory.peppol.eu/
About the author
Timothy Jacqmin: Co-founder of Nexuro Digital, a digital marketing agency and Official Odoo Partner (BE-FR-LUX), founded with his brother Bryan Jacqmin.
Our approach: data, transparency and ROI. Learn more about Nexuro →