Question 1

What does an EU VAT invoice need to include?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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. France, Germany, Poland, Romania, and Spain are rolling out 2026-2028. Once mandated in your country, B2B invoices to other registered businesses must be transmitted via Peppol in structured XML format (UBL or CII), not just as PDFs. Issueable produces a clean human-readable PDF; pair with a Peppol service provider (Pagero, Tungsten, Tradeshift) for the structured XML transmission.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

What about post-Brexit UK customers?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

Can I issue invoices in EUR or my local currency?

Accepted Answer

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 supports any currency; for cross-currency invoices, note the rate and date in the notes section.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

How long do I keep EU VAT invoices?

Accepted Answer

Member states require 6-10 years retention; Germany and the Netherlands are 10 years, France and most others are 6-8 years. 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.

EU Invoice Generator

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EU Invoice + Peppol FAQ