E-invoicing with Odoo
Why you should act now to comply with all new regulations
6 september, 2024 door
OBS Solutions GmbH, Leonie Böcher

E-invoicing with Odoo

The introduction of e-invoicing (electronic invoicing) has made considerable progress in recent years. The implementation of the EU guideline from 2014 laid the foundation for the mandatory acceptance and processing of electronic invoices for public contracts. This development is continuously being adapted and expanded in order to meet the changing technological and legal framework conditions. Here is an overview of the obligations that will apply from 2025 and how Odoo can provide support:

From 2025

Entry into force of the general obligation to issue invoices electronically.

End of 2026

B2B sales carried out in 2025/2026 may continue to use paper invoices. Electronic invoices may only be used in the old (non-EU-compliant) format if approved by the recipient.

End of 2027

B2B sales relating to the year 2027 are allowed to use paper invoices and EDI formats. The restriction is that the company may not exceed a previous year's turnover of € 800,000.

From 2028

All invoices must be transmitted in an EU-recognized format. Paper invoices or other formats are absolutely not permitted.

What formats does Odoo support?

Odoo already supports all common invoice formats. Until now, the choice of the right format often depended on the location of the company and the respective requirements. In future, this will be made much easier thanks to standardized regulations. One way to achieve maximum success with little effort is the free interface to Peppol. Electronic documents, including e-invoices, can be called up directly in the booking journal and do not require a complicated process. 

ZUGFeRD / Factur- X 

The German/ French format combines a PDF/A-3 file with embedded XML data and can therefore be read by both humans and machines. 

XRechnung 

The purely XML-based format was specially developed for public clients in Germany and can be used within the EU thanks to its EU conformity.

UBL 

This XML-based format is suitable for international transactions and is particularly popular in the public sector (B2G).

BisBillling 3.0 

It's based on the European standard Peppol and is widely used in countries such as Germany, Norway and the Netherlands.


Other required formats can be integrated into Odoo at any time.

Conclusion

The upcoming EU regulation allows for a gradual introduction until 2028. However, the first conflicts may already arise from 2025 if the invoice recipient rejects the document in a non-EU-compliant format. Internationally active companies in particular are under pressure to act. Early conversion of the ERP system is therefore advisable for both small and large companies and involves little effort. Odoo offers all-in-one support and can respond to individual needs.


For more federal information about the topic:  Peppol | E-Invoicing

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