E-invoicing4 min read
E-invoicing in Belgium: what's changing for businesses
A practical guide to e-invoicing for Belgian businesses: the Peppol BIS format, compliance steps, and the mistakes to avoid when making the switch.
The Youinv blog
Expert advice, practical guides and news on e-invoicing, Peppol and the digitalisation of Belgian and European businesses.
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Compliance & regulation8 min read
VAT fines: the penalties for a non-compliant invoice
Non-compliant VAT invoicing in Belgium: the scale of proportional and fixed fines, the criminal sanctions, and how to avoid them.
Peppol8 min read
VATEX codes: VAT exemption on the e-invoice
VATEX codes explained: what this VAT exemption reason code does on an e-invoice, when it becomes mandatory and how it ties into EN 16931.
E-invoicing9 min read
The simplified invoice in Belgium: cases and details
The simplified invoice in Belgium: when it is allowed, the EUR 100 excl. VAT threshold, its mandatory details and the operations excluded from the scheme.
Business management8 min read
The shareholder current account in a Belgian SME
Shareholder current account in Belgium: credit or debit balance, reclassification of interest as dividends and the market rate, explained for an SME.
Accounting8 min read
Purchase and sales journals in Belgium
The purchase and sales journals explained: what the inbound and outbound invoice registers are for, what they must contain and how they feed your VAT return.
Compliance & regulation8 min read
The VAT One Stop Shop (OSS): EU e-commerce VAT
The VAT One Stop Shop explained: the €10,000 threshold, the three schemes, filing through Intervat and EU e-commerce VAT for Belgian B2C sellers.
Peppol8 min read
The Peppol SBDH explained: the envelope around your documents
The Peppol SBDH decoded: what the Standard Business Document Header envelope contains, the identifiers it carries and its role in routing.
Business management8 min read
Client quotes in Belgium: from quote to invoice
Managing client quotes in Belgium: what a quote must contain, its legal weight, and how to turn it into a compliant invoice without re-keying.
Business management9 min read
Invoicing outside the EU: VAT and mandatory mentions
Invoicing a non-EU customer from Belgium: export VAT exemption, the rules for B2B and B2C services, and the mandatory mentions to put on the invoice.
Accounting9 min read
Provisions for liabilities and charges in a Belgian SME
Provisions for liabilities and charges in Belgium: definition, when to book one, recording in class 16 and the tax exemption for your SME.
E-invoicing8 min read
Corrective invoice in Belgium: fixing an issued invoice
The corrective invoice in Belgium: how to fix an invoice already issued, choose between a credit note and an additional invoice, and the corrective document.
Accounting8 min read
Depreciation of fixed assets: a Belgian SME guide
Depreciation of fixed assets for a Belgian SME: straight-line and declining-balance methods, what changed since 2020, and how to set the right period.
Compliance & regulation8 min read
Invoice numbering in Belgium: the rules
Invoice numbering in Belgium: what the law requires, how to build a continuous and unique series, and what e-invoicing changes about it.
Peppol9 min read
The AS4 protocol: how Peppol transports your documents
The AS4 protocol explained: how Peppol moves your invoices between access points, which OASIS standards it builds on and what it guarantees on every send.
Compliance & regulation7 min read
Invoice issuance deadline in Belgium: when to invoice
Invoice issuance deadline in Belgium: the 15th-day rule, when the clock starts (chargeable event, VAT chargeability) and how periodic invoices work.
Accounting10 min read
The general ledger and trial balance explained
The general ledger explained for a Belgian SME: how it relates to the journal and the trial balance, what the law requires, and how to read your accounts.
Compliance & regulation9 min read
Legal basis for B2B e-invoicing in Belgium
The legal basis for B2B e-invoicing in Belgium: the law of 6 February 2024, the royal decree of 8 July 2025, the VAT Code and the EU framework.
Peppol9 min read
Peppol MLR: the Message Level Response explained
The Peppol MLR (Message Level Response) decoded: what this acknowledgement does, its status codes, and how it differs from a transport acknowledgement.
Peppol7 min read
The Peppol Authority in Belgium: the role of FPS BOSA
The Peppol Authority in Belgium: what a Peppol Authority is, the role of FPS BOSA, its link with OpenPeppol, and what it changes for your invoices.
E-invoicing9 min read
Foreign-currency invoice: showing VAT in euros
Foreign-currency invoice rules: why VAT must be shown in euros, which exchange rate to apply, and how a Peppol e-invoice carries two currencies at once.
Business management9 min read
Self-billing explained: legal framework and conditions
Self-billing explained: the two legal conditions, the mandatory "Self-billing" mention, who stays responsible for VAT, and how it fits the Peppol B2B mandate.
Accounting10 min read
Balance sheet and income statement of a Belgian SME
Balance sheet and income statement of a Belgian SME explained: assets and liabilities, annual accounts and filing with the Central Balance Sheet Office.
Compliance & regulation8 min read
The annual VAT client listing in Belgium: how it works
The annual VAT client listing is a yearly obligation in Belgium: who must file it, the 250 EUR threshold, what it contains and how to submit it via Intervat.
Peppol8 min read
Peppol PINT: the international invoicing model
Peppol PINT explained: OpenPeppol's international invoicing model, its three content layers, and how it relates to Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 and EN 16931.
E-invoicing8 min read
B2G e-invoicing in Belgium: invoicing the public sector
B2G e-invoicing in Belgium: who is affected, the public-procurement timeline, the Peppol BIS format and the role of the Mercurius platform.
Compliance & regulation8 min read
Company number vs VAT number in Belgium
Company number or VAT number in Belgium: the difference, their format, when to use each, and how they appear on your invoices and on the Peppol network.
Compliance & regulation8 min read
VAT rates in Belgium: 21%, 12%, 6% and 0%
VAT rates in Belgium explained: the 21% standard rate, the 12% intermediate rate, the 6% reduced rate and the zero rate, with examples and their legal basis.
Peppol8 min read
Peppol documents: the electronic order and catalogue
Beyond the invoice, Peppol documents cover the order, the catalogue and the despatch advice. What they do, how they connect, and what is actually mandatory.
E-invoicing9 min read
The pro forma invoice: what it is for and what it is not
The pro forma invoice explained: what it is for, how it differs from a final invoice, its VAT status, and when to issue one for your business.
Business management8 min read
SME financial metrics: the 6 numbers to track
The financial metrics that matter for an SME explained: margin, cash, working capital and payment delays, with the formulas and a simple dashboard.
Accounting8 min read
The VAT franchise scheme in Belgium: threshold and duties
The Belgian VAT franchise scheme explained: the €25,000 threshold, conditions, the duties that remain, and what it changes for a small business's invoicing.
Compliance & regulation8 min read
VAT reverse charge in Belgium: when it applies
The VAT reverse charge in Belgium: when the customer accounts for the VAT instead of the supplier, how to invoice without tax and which mention to add.
E-invoicing8 min read
Receiving e-invoices: obligation and setup for Belgian SMEs
Receiving e-invoices in B2B: the Belgian obligation since 2026, who is in scope, and how to set up receiving over the Peppol network.
Accounting9 min read
The deposit invoice in Belgium: rules and VAT
The deposit invoice in Belgium explained: when to issue it, how VAT on an advance payment works, the mandatory details and the final settlement.
Accounting8 min read
Periodic VAT return in Belgium: deadlines and filing
The periodic VAT return in Belgium explained: monthly and quarterly regimes, filing deadlines through Intervat, payment, and the VAT chain reform.
Compliance & regulation8 min read
The EN 16931 standard: the invoice semantic model
The EN 16931 standard explained: the semantic model of the European e-invoice, its link to UBL 2.1, the CII syntax and Directive 2014/55/EU.
Peppol8 min read
The Peppol Directory: check a business on Peppol
The Peppol Directory explained: what this public directory is for, how to check whether a business is connected to Peppol, and what an absence really means.
Compliance & regulation8 min read
Evidential value of an e-invoice: the guide
Evidential value of an e-invoice: the three legal guarantees (authenticity, integrity, legibility), the reliable audit trail and the role of Peppol.
Compliance & regulation9 min read
Intra-Community VAT: invoicing between EU businesses
Intra-Community VAT: when to invoice without VAT between EU businesses, the exemption conditions, reverse charge and the mentions to put on the invoice.
Peppol8 min read
SMP and SML: the Peppol network directory explained
SMP and SML, the Peppol network directory explained: what these two services do, how they locate a recipient and what it changes for you.
E-invoicing7 min read
E-invoicing for the self-employed in Belgium
E-invoicing and the self-employed: who the B2B mandate covers, what changes for a small business and how to get ready without complexity.
E-invoicing8 min read
Electronic credit note: when and how to issue one
Electronic credit note: when to issue one, what it must contain and how it travels over Peppol in UBL 2.1 to correct an invoice you have already sent.
Peppol8 min read
Peppol access point: what it is for
The Peppol access point explained: its real role on the network, its place in the four-corner model, your Belgian identifier and how you connect through it.
Product & updates7 min read
Send an invoice via Peppol: a step-by-step guide
Sending an invoice via Peppol in practice: the prerequisites, what happens on the network, delivery confirmation and how YouInv handles it end to end.
Business management8 min read
Recurring billing: automating your subscriptions
Recurring billing: automate your subscriptions, stay compliant with the Belgian Peppol B2B mandate and collect payment automatically via SEPA direct debit.
Business management8 min read
SME cash flow management: tracking and forecasting
SME cash flow management: how to track receipts, build a reliable forecast, steer working capital and payment terms without nasty surprises.
Business management8 min read
How to reduce late payments: reminders and best practices
Reduce late payments in Belgium: legal payment terms, an effective reminder plan and automation to protect your SME's cash flow.
Accounting8 min read
Archiving electronic invoices in Belgium
Archiving electronic invoices: which format to keep, the seven-year legal retention period and the conditions that give your invoices evidential value.
Accounting7 min read
B2B payment terms in Belgium: what the law says
B2B payment terms in Belgium: what the law of 2 August 2002 requires, the 60-day cap, the 30-day default term and what a late payment costs the debtor.
Accounting8 min read
Bank reconciliation: automating payment matching
Automated bank reconciliation: how structured communication and the CODA file match your payments to your invoices without manual data entry.
Compliance & regulation7 min read
How long to keep invoices in Belgium
How long to keep invoices in Belgium: the ten-year legal retention period, when it starts, the special longer cases, and the rules for archiving e-invoices.
Compliance & regulation9 min read
Mandatory invoice details in Belgium
Mandatory invoice details in Belgium: the full list, the VAT number rule, the legal basis in the VAT Code and what changes with Peppol e-invoicing.
Compliance & regulation8 min read
ViDA: VAT in the Digital Age in Europe
ViDA, the EU's VAT in the Digital Age reform: its three pillars, the timeline through 2035 and what it changes for Belgian businesses.
Compliance & regulation8 min read
Directive 2014/55/EU: e-invoicing in public procurement
Directive 2014/55/EU explained: what it requires for e-invoicing in public procurement, how it relates to EN 16931 and Peppol, and who it affects.
Peppol8 min read
The Peppol four-corner model explained simply
The Peppol four-corner model decoded: the role of each corner, how an invoice finds its recipient and what this design changes for you.
Peppol8 min read
Peppol BIS Billing 3.0: what the format contains
Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 decoded: what this invoice profile really requires, how it relates to EN 16931 and UBL 2.1, and what it changes for your invoices.
E-invoicing6 min read
Switching to e-invoicing: a step-by-step guide
Switching to e-invoicing in Belgium: a step-by-step plan to connect to Peppol, choose a compliant tool and send your first structured invoice.
E-invoicing8 min read
The UBL 2.1 format explained: the structure of an e-invoice
UBL 2.1 decoded: where it comes from, how a structured e-invoice is organised, and how it relates to EN 16931 and Peppol BIS Billing 3.0.
Accounting8 min read
Automating accounting: a guide for Belgian SMEs
Automate SME accounting: what truly automates (Peppol, purchase invoices, bank reconciliation, VAT prep) and what still needs human judgement.
Product & updates7 min read
Automating invoicing with YouInv: what the software does
How the YouInv invoicing software automates Peppol sending and receiving, bank reconciliation via Ponto and Powens, and payment tracking for Belgian businesses.
Accounting6 min read
Belgian accounting software: how to choose in 2026
How to choose Belgian accounting software in 2026: Peppol connectivity, EN 16931 compliance, bank reconciliation, VAT handling and support for SMEs.
E-invoicing7 min read
E-invoicing software: how to choose one in Belgium
How to choose e-invoicing software in Belgium: native Peppol access point, EN 16931 compliance, send and receive, VAT, integrations and support.
Business management7 min read
SME invoicing mistakes: 5 traps to avoid in Belgium
The most common SME invoicing mistakes in Belgium explained: mandatory mentions, numbering, payment terms, VAT errors and getting ready for e-invoicing.
Compliance & regulation9 min read
Invoicing rules in Belgium: the obligations to know
Invoicing rules in Belgium: mandatory invoice details, issuance deadline, sequential numbering, retention and the structured e-invoice for SMEs.
E-invoicing7 min read
Free invoicing software in Belgium: what 'free' actually covers
An honest guide to free invoicing software in Belgium: what free plans cover, where the limits are, and whether they handle mandatory Peppol invoicing.
Accounting8 min read
The PCMN: Belgium's standardised chart of accounts explained
The PCMN, Belgium's standardised chart of accounts: what it is, its account-class structure, who must use it, and how it ties into your bookkeeping obligations.
Peppol7 min read
Belgium Peppol mandate: the B2B obligation from 1 January 2026
Belgium Peppol mandate explained: the law of 6 February 2024, who is in scope, what is excluded and the Peppol BIS format required for B2B invoices.
Peppol9 min read
Connecting to Peppol: the access point explained
Connecting to Peppol: the four-corner model, what a Peppol access point does, your Belgian participant ID, and the test send that confirms the connection.
E-invoicing7 min read
How to get ready for mandatory e-invoicing: a 2026 guide
Get ready for mandatory e-invoicing in Belgium: assess your flows, pick a Peppol-connected tool, clean client data, test and roll out step by step.
Compliance & regulation6 min read
VAT and e-invoicing in Belgium: what actually changes
VAT and e-invoicing in Belgium: what really changes for deduction, mandatory details, reporting and archiving once B2B invoices become structured Peppol files.
Peppol2 min read
Understanding the Peppol network in 5 minutes
The Peppol network explained simply: its four-corner model, the role of access points, and what it concretely changes for your invoices.