Companies established in France will be obliged to accept electronic invoices from July 1, 2024. The legal obligation to issue these documents will come into force between 2024 and 2026.
Timetable varies according to company size
An electronic invoice is a document created, sent and stored in dematerialized form, containing a minimum of structured data (transaction conditions, references of goods or services supplied, quantities, unit price excluding VAT, payment date, payment terms, etc.). The validity of an electronically transmitted invoice depends on the authenticity of its origin, the integrity of its content and its legibility.
Originally, the e-invoicing obligation was scheduled for 2023. However, the date has been postponed to allow companies and the Chorus Pro portal, the preferred platform for the dematerialized exchange of invoices, to become operational.
In concrete terms, the timetable for e-invoicing reform will take account of company size. Large companies will be obliged to issue electronic invoices on July 1, 2024, medium-sized companies on July 1, 2025, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-businesses on July 1, 2026. Documents must be transmitted via the platform chosen by the issuer and recipient of the invoice. This may be Chorus Pro or a partner dematerialization platform (PDP) accredited by the tax authorities. A dedicated registration service for PDPs will be available from September 2023.
It is important to note that several transactions fall outside the scope of electronic invoicing:
- international or intra-Community transactions,
- transactions with private customers,
- certain sector-specific operations (healthcare, education, real estate, etc.).
New data required by tax authorities
Companies affected by the obligation to issue electronic invoices will have to transmit new data to the tax authorities. These data, recently specified by the decree of October 7, 2022, are as follows:
- SIREN number,
- the delivery address of the goods,
- information on whether the operations invoiced are exclusively supplies of goods or services, or both,
- payment of VAT on a debit basis when the supplier has opted for this system.
These obligations are in addition to those already in place, notably the obligation toopen a business bank account.
These new requirements apply to invoices issued on or after July 1, 2024.
Electronic invoicing: how to prepare?
Companies have every interest in anticipating the introduction of electronic invoicing. Failure to comply with invoicing obligations and to transmit invoicing data to the tax authorities can result in a fine of 15 euros per invoice, capped at 15,000 euros per calendar year.
To prepare, you canuse a number of tools that enable you toissue secureelectronic invoices in real time, by connecting to the Chorus Pro portal. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is also advisable to entrust your accounting to an expert, who will take care of all the necessary formalities.