EU invoice generator

EU invoice + Peppol FAQ

What does an EU VAT invoice need to include?

Per EU VAT Directive 2006/112/EC, a full VAT invoice must include: invoice number, issue date, supplier name + address + VAT ID, customer name + address + VAT ID (for B2B), description of goods/services, taxable amount per VAT rate, VAT rate(s) applied, VAT amount, total amount due, and any reference to special regimes (margin scheme, reverse charge, etc.). Member states may add country-specific requirements; the directive establishes the floor.

What is Peppol e-invoicing and when do I need to comply?

Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line) is a standardized network for structured e-invoices in the EU. Belgium became the first EU member state to mandate B2B Peppol e-invoicing on January 1, 2026. Several other countries use their own national systems. Romania has required B2B invoices to go through its RO e-Factura platform since 2024. Poland made its KSeF platform mandatory for the largest businesses on February 1, 2026 and for most others on April 1, 2026. In France, every business must be able to receive e-invoices through an approved platform from September 1, 2026; large and mid-sized companies must also issue them from that date, and smaller ones from September 1, 2027. Germany has required businesses to accept EN 16931 e-invoices since January 1, 2025, and phases in issuing in 2027 and 2028. Once your country's mandate applies to you, B2B invoices must be sent as structured data through the required channel, and a PDF alone won't satisfy it. Issueable produces a clean human-readable PDF; pair with an e-invoicing service provider (Pagero, Tungsten, Tradeshift) for the structured transmission.

Do I still need a PDF invoice once Peppol is mandatory?

Yes: Peppol XML is the legal record between businesses, but humans still want a readable PDF for review, archival, and dispute resolution. Most Peppol service providers generate both: structured XML for transmission, human-readable PDF for the recipient and your records. Issueable produces the PDF; transmission and structured-format conversion goes through your Peppol provider.

How does VAT work for B2B sales between EU member states?

Reverse charge applies; you charge 0% VAT to the buyer if both parties are VAT-registered in different EU states, and the buyer self-accounts in their country. Both VAT IDs must appear on the invoice. The reference "Reverse charge, Article 196 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC" or local equivalent should be on the invoice. Buyers without an EU VAT ID (private consumers) get charged your country's VAT rate.

What about post-Brexit UK customers?

Post-Brexit (January 2021), UK customers are treated as non-EU. Sales of goods are generally zero-rated for UK customers (export from EU), with the UK customer responsible for UK VAT and any duties on import. Services to UK B2B customers usually fall under UK reverse charge. Reference your specific service category and confirm with a VAT specialist; the rules are nuanced.

Can I issue invoices in EUR or my local currency?

Most member states allow invoices in any currency, but require the VAT amount to be shown in the local currency (EUR, or local non-Euro currency for non-Eurozone members like Sweden, Denmark, Czechia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria). State the exchange rate used. Issueable offers 15 common currencies; for cross-currency invoices, note the rate and date in the notes section.

What's the OSS scheme and when do I need it?

The One-Stop Shop (OSS) is a simplification for cross-border B2C e-commerce sales above €10,000/year combined into other EU states. Instead of registering for VAT in every member state where you sell, you register once with the OSS in your home state and submit a single quarterly return. For B2B sales, regular reverse charge applies and OSS isn't relevant. If you sell consumer goods/services across the EU, OSS registration is essentially required.

How long do I keep EU VAT invoices?

Member states require 6-10 years retention; Germany is 8 years for invoices (10 for books and annual accounts), the Netherlands 7 years (10 for real-estate records), France 10 years under its commercial code. Most others fall in the 6-10 year range. Digital storage with integrity guarantees is accepted. PDFs with metadata are usually fine; many member states require additional integrity controls (digital signatures, sealed-PDF formats) for VAT-deduction substantiation. Check your country's specific requirements.