From 1 January 2026, B2B e-invoicing or electronic invoicing between companies will be mandatory in Belgium. In enacting this law, the government has opted for a more harmonised approach. The aim is to:
- Increase the competitiveness of companies by reducing their administrative burden
- Prevent tax fraud by automating VAT declarations
- Adjust economic policy on the basis of more qualitative data
The new law applies to small and large businesses and is a logical development in today's increasingly digital world.
How does it work?
Every year, companies across Belgium issue up to 1 billion invoices. In many cases, they use e-mail and send PDF invoices. From 2026, they will have to create and send their invoices in a new electronic format via a dedicated network. These structured e-invoices will contain all the data in a machine-readable format that can be automatically imported into software. This will allow processes to be optimised and automated.
Traditional invoicing process |
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E-invoicing process |
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Who is part of this ecosystem?
There are four important players in the new ecosystem:
- Traditional banks
Some banks already have e-invoicing solutions in place.
- Fintechs
In addition to payment solutions, they also offer e-invoicing services and compete with traditional banks.
- Accounting platforms
They offer comprehensive financial management, including e-invoicing modules.
- Invoicing service providers
They have tools to create, send, receive and manage invoices and also offer services such as embedded finance.
What solutions do e-invoicing platforms offer?
- Create an electronic invoice in one click
- Send and receive e-invoices using a regulatory protocol
- Archive e-invoices and link them to an accounting software suite
- Use an analysis tool to map cash flows
What does our bank do?
As a bank, our role is to support you as a trusted financial partner with the solutions you need and give you access to our ecosystem of partners. It is not our intention to take over the role of accounting software or fintechs. However, we are happy to help you with payments and financing.
- In the near future, we will inform you about the new law on mandatory e-invoicing between companies and answer any questions you may have.
- In the medium term, we want to make the financing of your receivables faster and smoother, so that you have easier access to your working capital.
- In the long term, we are working on a solution to integrate e-invoicing data into our app so you can perform a risk analysis based on it.
Advantages
The new law is in line with various developments and initiatives at the European level, and offers three major benefits:
- Increased competitiveness for companies as a result of the reduced administrative burden
- Reduced tax fraud thanks to automated VAT declarations
- Adjustment of economic policy on the basis of more qualitative data
Good to know
Although the introduction of mandatory e-invoicing between companies may seem a long way off, we recommend that you start preparing for this transition as soon as possible. This is because the obligation will be introduced in one go. As a company, you should have a plan in place to ensure that you are compliant with the law by 1 January 2026.
The proposed changes will impact many teams within your organisation (accounting, IT, etc.), as well as existing processes and technology. If you do not manage this properly, you risk significant additional costs.
Useful links
- Podcast sur YouTube (FR) & Podcast op YouTube (NL)
- Podcast sur Spotify (FR) & Podcast op Spotify (NL)
- Podcast article