Dear colleagues,
The future of invoicing is digital, and it starts with Peppol on January 1, 2026.
As of that date, all electronic invoices B2B must go through the Peppol network.
The Peppol requirement applies to all Belgian VAT-registered companies, regardless of their size. This includes self-employed individuals, SMEs, large corporations, and VAT-registered non-profits. However, it does not apply to invoices sent to consumers (B2C), non-VAT-registered companies, or, for now, certain international transactions.
What is Peppol?
Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) is an international network for exchanging electronic documents. It is widely recognized across Europe as a standard for e-invoicing, designed to enable the secure, fast, and error-free sending and receiving of invoices.
From January 1, 2026, using Peppol will become mandatory for invoicing between Belgian VAT-registered companies.
This reform aims to:
- modernize and digitize business transactions
- strengthen tax control by reducing VAT fraud through automated monitoring
- simplify administrative management for companies
- align Belgian practices with the European e-invoicing standards defined by EN16931.
How does Peppol work?
- Each company receives a Peppol ID, based on its VAT number.
- Invoices are transmitted in the UBL 2.1 standard format (Peppol-BIS).
- The exchange must go through a certified access point.
- For BESIX, this is handled by Nymus (Safe and efficient invoicing with our Peppol Access Point - Nymus).
- The process is secure, automated, and traceable, with no manual emailing.
What this means for BESIX
- 4PS will be directly connected to the Peppol network via Nymus (our access point).
- Invoices will be sent automatically through Peppol, without changing internal processes (approvals, validations).
- For the Accounts Receivable (AR): With Nymus and Peppol, you continue to create your invoice in 4PS as usual. Rather than sending it by e-mail, the invoice is automatically converted into the Peppol standard format and securely transmitted through the network. Clients connected to Peppol receive it directly in their system. For clients not connected to Peppol, the invoice process remains the same as it is today. You can check which procedure you need to follow in 4PS on the client’s customer card. If the ‘Document Sending Profile’ is set to “PEPPOL”, the invoice will be sent automatically.
- For the Accounts Payable (AP): The process remains the same. Importantly, nothing changes for approvers.
What about international clients?
If you send invoices to clients outside Belgium, the obligation depends on the regulations in the recipient country. Starting in 2030, electronic invoicing will become the standard across the European Union. You may voluntarily use Peppol for international invoices, as long as both you and your client are connected to the Peppol network. You can verify whether a client is connected to the Peppol network through the public Peppol directory. (Peppol Directory - Search)
BESIX Planning
- ASAP: Contact all clients to confirm if we should send them documents via Peppol, allowing this information to be added to their customer card.
- December 2025: Software update (4PS 25.3 / Business Central 26.2 + Hubble SaaS for WhiteVision).
- End of 2025: Internal testing and training for the relevant users.
- January 2026: Official transition to invoicing via Peppol.
If you have any questions, please contact Lana Pacuraru (lana.pacuraru@besix.com).
