Peppol mandatory in Belgium
Since 1 January 2026, Belgian VAT-registered businesses must exchange structured e-invoices via Peppol. Here is what that means for your webshop.
The mandate timeline
Legal basis
The Royal Decree of 19 December 2023 establishes mandatory structured B2B e-invoicing, transposing the European e-invoicing directive (EN 16931).
B2G already mandatory
For public contracts published after 1 March 2024, e-invoicing to the government (B2G) is already mandatory.
Practical modalities
The Royal Decree of 14 July 2025 confirms Peppol/BIS as the reference and sets practical modalities, including fines for non-readiness and VAT rounding at rate level.
B2B mandatory
Between Belgian VAT-registered businesses, a structured electronic invoice (such as Peppol BIS) is mandatory. A PDF by e-mail no longer legally counts as an e-invoice.
Who does the mandate apply to?
B2B: yes
Invoices between Belgian VAT-registered businesses must be sent and received as structured e-invoices via Peppol.
B2C: no
Sales to consumers do not fall under the outgoing obligation. As a business you must, however, be able to receive e-invoices.
Foreign customers
The Belgian mandate applies between Belgian VAT-registered businesses. If your foreign customer has a Peppol Participant ID you can invoice them over the same network: convenient, but not required.
What do you risk if you are not ready?
The Royal Decree of 14 July 2025 provides specific fines for non-readiness, increasing up to €5,000 for repeated infringements. There is a practical risk too: customers may refuse your invoice or pay late because it never reaches their accounting system.
How to make your webshop Peppol-ready
1Recognise business customers in your checkout
Collect the VAT number and legal name on business orders, so a correct BIS 3.0 invoice can be created automatically.
2Connect your webshop to Peppol
Install the SendPol plugin for your platform (WordPress/WooCommerce, Shopify, Wix, Magento, PrestaShop, Ecwid or Stripe). B2B invoices then leave automatically through a certified Access Point.
3Check whether your customers are reachable
With the free Peppol Check you verify, based on a VAT or company number, whether a business can already receive e-invoices via Peppol.
Frequently asked questions about the mandate
Can I still send PDF invoices to businesses?
Not as the legally valid invoice. Between Belgian VAT-registered businesses a structured e-invoice (such as Peppol BIS) has been required since 1 January 2026. Sending a PDF copy for reference is still allowed.
What if my customer is not yet connected to Peppol?
In practice most Belgian businesses are connected; SendPol checks this automatically per invoice via the SMP registry. If a recipient is not reachable, you can temporarily agree on another EN 16931-compliant exchange, but your own systems must be Peppol-ready.
Does the mandate also cover my sales to consumers?
No, B2C does not fall under the outgoing obligation. If you sell to both businesses and consumers, your checkout must tell them apart so business orders automatically get an e-invoice.
How quickly can my webshop comply?
With a SendPol plugin you are typically live within half an hour: install, fill in your company details and activate. B2B orders are then automatically converted into Peppol-compliant e-invoices.
Make your webshop Peppol-ready today
Automatic B2B recognition, correct BIS 3.0 invoices and delivery through a certified Access Point, no technical knowledge needed.