What is Peppol?
Peppol is an open, international network that functions as a “highway” for the secure and structured exchange of business documents, such as invoices. It is a standard framework that ensures different software packages can communicate with each other.
What is a Peppol Access Point?
A Peppol Access Point is an accredited service provider that connects businesses and government agencies to the international Peppol network. You can see it as a sort of “telephone provider” for e-invoicing: without an Access Point, you don’t have access to the network to send or receive electronic documents.
What is a Peppol-ID?
A Peppol ID is a unique digital identifier that allows companies to find each other and exchange invoices directly within the network. For Belgium, this could look like this:
- When your Belgian company is registered with the company number (standard): 0208:0477123456
- When your Belgian company is registered with the VAT number (optional): 9925:be0477123456
Do I need specific software?
Yes, you need software that has access to the Peppol network. If you handle your invoicing through your accounting software, it will most likely offer Peppol support. You can also choose to use a separate service provider – a ‘Peppol Access Point.’ With this, you could, for example, manually create an invoice and then send it to your customer via the Peppol network.
With our PeppolCommerce plugin, you get this Peppol integration automatically. When an order is entered, we automatically send it to your customer via the Peppol network. In addition, we also still generate a PDF version of the invoice that can be delivered to your customer via email.
Is there a cost linked with Peppol?
Peppol itself is an open network, but using it through a service provider or software package is usually not free. Some providers do have free packages for a limited number of documents.
Is Peppol safe?
Yes, Peppol guarantees a strict security and privacy policy that ensures data is properly protected and exchanged securely.
What happens if I don’t implement on time?
If you fail to meet the obligations, you risk fines and delays in payments. Therefore, it is essential to start the implementation process on time.
What is the Peppol integration exactly?
This means that your current invoicing process is linked to the Peppol network, so you can send and receive invoices in the correct structured format (Peppol-BIS). You don’t have to read the XML files yourself. The software converts the data into a readable format.
Which countries require Peppol?
Besides Belgium, several countries (both European and non-European, such as Australia and New Zealand) already use e-invoicing, including for B2G (Business-to-Government) and/or B2B (Business-to-Business). Although Peppol is considered a standard, its effective implementation follows the individual countries’ own regulations. The timelines for e-invoicing implementation are also determined by the individual countries’ schedules.
Where can I see which customers or suppliers use Peppol?
You can look this up via the Peppol Directory, using company number, name, etc.
What are the costs when making the transition to e-invoicing?
The costs vary greatly. They depend on the chosen software, the complexity of the integration, and the volume of your invoicing. However, there are tax advantages: the investment deduction for digital investments has been increased, and subscription costs for invoicing packages are temporarily deductible at a higher rate (120%).
What are the benefits of e-invoicing?
E-invoicing provides your company with the following benefits:
- Time and cost savings
Because invoices are sent electronically, there are no more printing or postage costs. When your software generates an invoice and automatically sends it via the Peppol network, this also saves time. When choosing a solution, make sure this process happens automatically. A solution where you, for example, manually create an invoice in Excel, save it as a PDF, upload that PDF so it can be converted to UBL format, and then send it via Peppol, is not entirely the purpose of this automation. In such a setup, you will still spend a lot of time sending that invoice ‘automatically’. - Faster payments
Invoices are delivered more quickly and directly, which improves cash flow. - Less mistakes
Manual errors are eliminated through automation. This is the case when you immediately send an invoice from an order via Peppol. This is not entirely the case when you still have to take manual actions yourself—see above. - Secure
The Peppol network is secure and reduces the risk of fraud. - Better compliance
It is a proactive step to comply with legal requirements.
How do I start?
That depends on your specific situation. For example:
- You already create all your invoices today using your accountant’s software
In this case, that software will almost certainly also handle the Peppol integration. It’s best to check with your accountant whether this is the case, or whether you need to look for an external solution to be legally compliant.
If you want to automatically send invoices from your WooCommerce webshop to B2B clients, you will probably not be able to do this through the invoicing module of your accounting solution. In this case, Peppol Commerce can help. Our plugin sends the e-invoice directly and automatically to your customer, and it can also (if desired) be emailed to your accounting package so that it is automatically entered into the sales ledger - You currently create your invoices in Excel, print them, and send them to your customers via email or post
For B2B customers, you’ll need a Peppol solution. If you have a mix of consumer and business customers, it’s important to understand that e-invoicing is only mandatory—in Belgium from January 1, 2026—for B2B invoices.
Which solution is best for you depends on your specific situation. A few examples: - If you provide services: you could log your ‘hours’ in a WordPress record and invoice them monthly (or weekly) via PeppolCommerce, and then send them immediately through the Peppol network.
- If you sell products: but your ERP/stock management solution doesn’t have automatic e-invoicing: you should look for a solution that automates this for your specific ERP/stock management solution.
Am I required to accept incoming invoices via Peppol?
Yes, the obligation also applies to being able to receive structured e-invoices from your suppliers. It is crucial to ensure that your systems can handle this.
May I use multiple ‘Access Points’?
You can only have one Peppol Access Point for receiving invoices, but you can use several for sending invoices.
Who is our Peppol Commerce plugin intended for?
For all WooCommerce webshops that specifically sell B2B or have a combination of business customers and consumers, and who want to automatically send the e-invoice via Peppol to their (business) customers.
What if my B2B customer is not (yet) registered with Peppol?
When an invoice is created, we also immediately generate a PDF version of it. If your customer is not known on the Peppol network, you will still be able to send the invoice via email.
Please note: it is mandatory for Belgian companies to register on the Peppol network using their enterprise number. As such, the PDF version of the invoice will no longer have legal value as of January 1, 2026. However…it may still be useful to be able to send it via email.
Do we need to have our own account with a Peppol Service Provider when we use PeppolCommerce to send invoices?
No, you do not need to have an account with a Peppol Service Provider yourself (to send invoices). Invoices are sent via our integration.
However, when you do business in a B2B environment, your company should be registered on the Peppol network. But this registration is separate from our Peppol Commerce WordPress plugin or the sending of e-invoices.
What happens with invoices for consumers (B2C) or foreign companies?
The obligation does not apply to invoices for private individuals (B2C) or foreign companies. Only B2B transactions within Belgium are covered by the obligation.
Wat if one of the parties is not VAT eligible?
Then the obligation for the mutual transaction does not apply.
Is a PDF invoice for B2B transactions still legally accepted via email?
No, starting in 2026, a PDF invoice will no longer meet the legal requirements for B2B transactions in Belgium. The invoice must be sent in a structured electronic format, such as UBL, via a secure network (Peppol).
However, and this is especially true during the transition phase, we still generate a PDF version of the invoice with Peppol Commerce. You can then still send this to your customer as a reminder.
Does the Peppol Commerce WordPress plugin only work with WooCommerce?
Peppol Commerce works with WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads (future), and FluentCart (future). Online orders created through these WordPress plugins can use our plugin to send e-invoices via Peppol. There are also scenarios where, as an entrepreneur, you do not have a webshop but still want to easily send your billed hours and/or days via an e-invoice. That is also possible through our plugin. In this case, you can track your performances in WordPress and electronically invoice them at the end of the project or at the end of the month.
Do I need to use an additional service when sending e-invoices via Peppol Commerce?
No, you do not need to set up any additional integrations with third parties. We use a standard, preconfigured Peppol Access Point to send your invoices via Peppol. This means that when the invoice is created in WooCommerce, it is sent directly to the Peppol network. There are no additional intermediaries, and you also do not need to use any extra services to send the e-invoice.
Does my e-invoice also immediately appear in my accounting system?
No, that doesn’t happen automatically. Even if you have a ‘full account’ with a Peppol Access Point, and even if this access point has an integration with your accounting software, you will still need to check with your accounting software provider whether and how outgoing (and also incoming) invoices can be directly entered into your bookkeeping.
For outgoing invoices via Peppol Commerce, we offer the option to send the (UBL & PDF version) of the invoice to a separate email address. This is a good alternative so that your invoice is delivered directly to your accounting system via that route. Here too, you should check with your accounting software provider whether they have the capability to process incoming emails, and what cost is associated with this.