E-invoicing Compliance in Ireland (B2G)

Electronic invoicing, also known as e-invoicing, is a method of invoicing that allows businesses to exchange invoices electronically, usually in a structured digital format. Due to all of the benefits this can present, Ireland has begun to implement it.

Enforcing the European Directive 55/2014/EU and VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) proposal according to EN 16931 has improved eProcurement for B2G transactions in Ireland. Through it, they have made it obligatory for public administrations to be able to process and receive e-invoices since 2020.

Latest news

As announced on 19 April 2023, the public sector, which is mandated to receive and process e-invoices, must procure services from the open market through providers such as DDD Invoices.

The Irish Tax and Customs Department is also considering new digital reporting requirements in order to modernize its VAT system.

Electronic invoice implementation timeline

• 18 April 2019: Mandated public entities must be able to receive and process e-invoices

• April 2020: All public sector entities must be able to receive and process e-invoices

E-invoicing compliance

Scope

Under the current mandate, only public administrative bodies must be able to process and receive e-invoices. B2G suppliers and those conducting B2B or B2C transactions are not included.

Format

The official format in Ireland is Peppol BIS 3.0. Despite that, CIUS-CEFACT is used between public administrations.

Basic services required

There are 5 items required for a taxpayer to choose from on the Notification to Activate Services Form (NASF) for basic compliance:

1. Set up framework client for Peppol AP and SMP services (one-time fee)

2. EDocument Management Portal account (annual fee for up to 10,000 invoices)

3. Register SMP as a Peppol receiver (annual fee)

4. Peppol and SMP services (annual fee)

5. Service operation management (annual fee)

Peppol

The Peppol network serves as the foundation for the Irish e-invoicing system. Since there is no central platform, companies can send and receive invoices using any e-invoicing program compatible with the Peppol network.

The Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line (PEPPOL) network is widely used for e-invoicing in Ireland. PEPPOL facilitates the secure exchange of electronic documents between businesses and government entities, including invoices, purchase orders, and more.

Benefits of e-invoicing and online fiscalization

There are many benefits that entities can capitalize on:

• Automation - This can aid in reducing human error, speeding up the invoicing process, and allowing employees to focus on fewer routine tasks.

• Cost savings - E-invoicing can help save over 60% of the time and money spent on paper invoices.

• Compliance - Through utilizing a service provider such as DDD Invoices, companies do not have to create their own e-invoicing system and do not have to deal with the bureaucracy that comes with both of these processes.

DDD Invoices: a certified Peppol Access Point

Want to connect to Peppol and don't know how? Here are the benefits of choosing DDD Invoices as your Peppol Access Point:

• Unlock the ability to send and receive e-documents worldwide, without worrying about local compliance issues. Through our API, we automatically fill in your invoice data and send the invoice to the proper authorities, letting you focus on your core business processes and we manage the bureaucracy.

• Seamlessly integrate into your current invoicing system, ERP or CRM in as little as one day. Enjoy an error-free and automated invoicing process through our secure and reliable service.

FAQs about electronic invoicing in Ireland