E-invoicing legislation in France has changed significantly in recent years. It is already mandatory for French companies to send an e-invoice to government agencies. Soon, an e-invoice will also become mandatory for trade between French companies.
Discover below the current legislation and what options French companies have to exchange e-invoices.
B2G e-invoicing in France
Mandatory since 2020: Since Jan. 1, 2020, it has been mandatory for companies doing business with the French government to submit electronic invoices through the central platform Chorus Pro.
Formats: Invoices must be submitted in UBL 2.1 or CII format, or in the hybrid Invoice-X format (a PDF with embedded XML data).
Future update: Although the French government is working on a new platform, Portail Public de Facturation (PPF), it remains unclear whether this platform will replace Chorus Pro.
B2B e-invoicing in France
New legislation 2026-2027: From 2026, companies in France will be required to send and receive electronic invoices through certified service providers called PDPs (Partner Dematerialization Platforms). This legislation will be phased in:
- September 2026: Mandatory for all companies with revenues over €50 million and/or more than 250 employees.
- September 2027: Mandatory for all companies.
Required format: Invoices must comply with the EN 16931 standard and can be submitted in UBL 2.1, UN/CEFACT CII or Invoice-X format. In addition, companies can also comply with legislation through the Peppol standard.
E-reporting
Parallel to e-invoicing: in addition to e-invoicing, there is also a mandatory e-reporting component, requiring PDPs to extract tax data from invoices and forward them to the tax authorities.
PDPs and Peppol
Certified service providers: companies are required to select a certified PDP to process their e-invoices. These PDPs will process the invoices and report tax data directly to the French tax authorities.
Peppol network: PDPs are required to be connected to each other via the Peppol network, allowing e-invoices to be sent between different PDPs worldwide.
Impact for businesses
No more free option: Whereas companies previously had the choice between a free government platform (PPF) and a PDP, the PPF’s role is now limited to managing the company registry and collecting tax data, forcing companies to use a PDP, which is likely to be paying.
As a Belgian company, how do I send an invoice to France?
If you are a Belgian company doing business with a French company, you must invoice according to Belgian rules. In Belgium, the Peppol network is the standard.
To send e-invoices, you must register through a certified Peppol Access Point such as Nymus. Both sole proprietors, and multinationals can use the Peppol network. The choice of a Peppol Access Point is not trivial and depends heavily on your business needs. Do you opt for a Peppol button in your ERP or billing package, or do you opt for an e-service provider that completely unburdens you?
Why choose Peppol with Nymus?
When you choose Peppol with Nymus, we completely unburden you. We are not a standard Peppol Access Point but a total solution for your billing process. Our goal is to seamlessly integrate Peppol into your entire process.
Our clients don’t have to lie awake about their billing process because we have all the knowledge and resources to do it for you. These are the factors that set us apart from other solutions.
- We'll make sure you comply with all the rules without a lot of internal changes.
- We think with you to provide a solution to your current problems.
- We completely unburden you. You don't have to lie awake worrying about all the changes in technology, legislation and tax or financial obligations.
- Thanks to our innovative mindset, we are keeping up with AI and blockchain developments. As a result, our technology is on point.
- At Nymus, a personal approach is key. We can be reached quickly, are short on time and know our clients' organization.
Nymus is ready for you
Still have questions or need help? No worries, we have a strong support team. We will guide you through the transition and help where needed.
Doing business in France? Contact us!
Send Peppol invoices to France flawlessly and efficiently? Contact us without obligation.
