E-invoicing: send invoices via Peppol from now on
As of 2026, you will be required to implement e-invoicing. The transmission of these electronic invoices is facilitated through Peppol. When you send a sales invoice via Peppol, it will be sent via your access point over the Peppol network to the customer's access point. This is called the Peppol four-corner model.
An example
The operation of Peppol is quite technical. However, you can compare it to the workings of the mail service. When you want to send an invoice by mail, you put that paper letter in a red mailbox of the postal service. Bpost will then be able to check who the addressee is based on the address and put the invoice in the correct letterbox. Peppol works very similarly. The access points work like mailboxes and Peppol ensures that the invoices are put in the right mailbox.
It is important to know that your customers should not have access to Peppol via the same access point as you as a supplier. Every entrepreneur can use the access point of his choice and that can be linked to his ERP package or accounting software. It goes without saying that the opposite applies to customers: suppliers are allowed to use a different access point than themselves.
The following images clarify this.
Source: Peppol (www.peppolinbelgium.be/nl)
Make use of the right software
As an entrepreneur, you will need to have the software that includes the access to Peppol. Both for drawing up sales invoices and for receiving your purchase invoices. After all, you must be able to send your outgoing invoices via the Peppol network on one hand and to receive your incoming invoices sent via the Peppol network on the other. Strictly speaking, this means that your entire financial administration will be digitized.
However, you should note that you cannot connect to an unlimited number of access points to receive your structured electronic invoices. You will only be able to connect to one access point to receive your invoices. So be sure to consult with your accountant before connecting to an access point. You may already be linked to such an access point via the software your accountant has made available to you.
There is no limit to the number of access points you can connect to for sending your invoices. If you have different billing packages, each package will probably connect to Peppol via a different access point. This should not cause any problems.
Utilization of Peppol for SBB customers
SBB is technically fully prepared for e-invoicing via Peppol. We already have an access point with which you as a customer can send and receive your purchase and sales invoices. To send invoices, we use sbbFACT, an application that allows you as an entrepreneur to easily link to Peppol. However, this link must be made in consultation with your accountant, because an eID of a legal representative is required. Consult with your accountant to evaluate if sbbFACT fits the particular demands of your enterprise. If sbbFACT does not contain the necessary functionalities, we are happy to help you look at other software that provides access to Peppol.
Invoices are received via sbbSLIM, which Peppol integrates via Voila. Voila automatically recognizes which invoices have been sent via Peppol and imports them directly into the addressee's sbbSLIM file. Your accountant can quickly activate this feature for you.
It is crucial to activate access to Peppol in consultation with your accountant, as this has a major impact on the administrative processes. If you activate Peppol via sbbFACT, you will have to send your invoices via Peppol from then on. For the integration of Voila, it is crucial to manage your administrative processes effectively to avoid potential payment delays and late fees. We recommend starting with Peppol now, so that the transition to e-invoicing in 2026 goes smoothly. In 2025, the number of invoices sent via Peppol is likely to increase, making it essential to start digitizing your administration now.
Want to know more?
Do you have any questions about e-invoicing and your software package? Please contact our accountants. We are happy to look at the possibilities.
Disclaimer:
The content of this blog has been automatically translated. While we strive to provide accurate translations, errors or inaccuracies may occur. SBB Accountants & Advisors is not responsible for any mistakes, omissions, or misunderstandings arising from the translation. For the most accurate information, please refer to the original version of the blog in Dutch.
