Electronic invoicing: a new obligation as of 2026

From September 1, 2026, electronic invoicing will become mandatory for all large companies as well as for mid-sized companies.
One year later, from 1 September 2027, this obligation will also apply to small and medium-sized enterprises as well as micro-enterprises.

Concretely, this means that all companies will have to issue and receive their invoices in electronic format via platforms approved by the tax authorities. The stated objective of the state is to simplify trade, strengthen transparency, and combat VAT fraud.

📋 What is an Electronic Invoice?

An electronic invoice is an invoice created, issued, and received in a dematerialized format, complying with a structured layout defined by the administration and transmitted via an approved platform. It contains all mandatory fiscal data and allows for automated processing by business management systems.

• What is considered an electronic invoice: An invoice in a structured format (UBL, CII, Factur-X) transmitted via a partner dematerialization platform or the Public Billing Portal (PPF). An invoice created and sent directly in an electronic format, without going through a paper version.

• What is NOT an electronic invoice: A simple PDF sent by email, even with an electronic signature. An invoice scanned from a paper original. Any invoice that does not transit through a certified platform or is not in a recognized structured format.

From 2026 onwards, PDFs sent by email will no longer be enough: only electronic invoices transmitted through the official system will be considered compliant.

🚀 Why Electronic Invoicing is Important

Beyond legal compliance, electronic invoicing offers numerous advantages for businesses:

• Process simplification: Less paper, fewer postal mailings, and more automation in administrative management.

• Cost reduction: Savings on printing, postage, storage, and manual invoice processing.

• Time savings: Faster processing of client and supplier invoices, with direct integration into management tools.

• Increased security: Better traceability, reducing the risk of loss, duplicates, or falsification.

• Environmental friendliness: Reduction in paper usage and physical mailings.

• Tax transparency: Centralized transmission via the Public Billing Portal allows for better tracking and control of VAT declarations.

Therefore, electronic invoicing is much more than a regulatory constraint: it is an opportunity to modernize financial management and increase efficiency.

🎪 What This Changes for Event Professionals

For stakeholders in the event industry—whether they are agencies, venues, hotels, tourism offices, or convention centers—this regulatory shift requires a gradual adaptation of their management tools. The complete dematerialization of invoices will require relying on solutions capable of:

1. Automatically issuing invoices that meet the imposed standards.

2. Transmitting these invoices through validated channels (partner platforms and the public billing portal).

3. Receiving and processing supplier invoices in electronic format.

4. Ensuring legal archiving and traceability of documents.

🛡️ Lab Event Will Be Ready for 2026

At Lab Event, we have anticipated this development. Our quoting and invoicing software will natively integrate the features required for electronic invoicing in 2026, guaranteeing our clients a smooth transition that complies with upcoming regulations. Thanks to Lab Event, you will be able to keep managing your events, quotes, orders, and invoices within a single, centralized environment—all while meeting new legal obligations. Our event quoting and invoicing software will ensure optimal management, complying with the latest requirements and simplifying your administrative processes.

📅 Join Our Dedicated Webinar

On the agenda:

• Understanding the challenges of electronic invoicing.

• The step-by-step process of sending and receiving electronic invoices.

• Lab Event’s role in the invoicing chain.

• How your setup will take place (guided, simple, fast).

• What you will need to do or stop doing.

📝 In Summary

Electronic invoicing is an unavoidable milestone for all businesses. Thanks to Lab Event, you are guaranteed to approach this deadline with complete peace of mind starting in 2026.