Key takeaways
- Hermes was a free federal public service that received Peppol invoices on behalf of unconnected companies and forwarded them as PDFs by email.
- The platform was decommissioned at the end of 2025, with read-only access kept until March 2026.
- Hermes was a transition relay: the administration shut it down because the private market for Peppol solutions had matured.
- To receive your Peppol invoices today, you use an access point through compliant invoicing software.
Hermes Peppol, the public service that no longer exists
If you are still trying to receive your Peppol invoices through Hermes, the answer is short: the service is no longer running. Hermes Peppol was decommissioned by the Belgian federal administration at the end of 2025, with read-only access kept for a few months so users could consult their history. Since 1 January 2026, structured e-invoicing is the rule for B2B transactions between Belgian VAT-registered businesses, and receiving invoices now goes through a Peppol access point.
Hermes nevertheless played a useful role during the transition. Understanding what it did, why it disappeared and what replaces it saves you from chasing a phantom service and puts you on the right track for what comes next.
What Hermes was used for
Hermes was a free service set up by the Federal Public Service Policy and Support (FPS BOSA). Its purpose: to let a Belgian company not yet connected to Peppol still receive the invoices its suppliers sent over the network.
The principle was simple. The company registered with Hermes, which made it reachable on the Peppol network. The structured invoices addressed to it then arrived at Hermes, which converted them into a readable PDF and emailed it to the address provided. On the recipient's side, no specific software was needed: checking your email was enough.
Why Hermes was shut down at the end of 2025
A transition service is meant to disappear once the transition is done. That is exactly what happened. The administration found that the private market for Peppol invoicing solutions had matured: compliant tools are plentiful, accessible and often offered at affordable rates, including for the self-employed and small businesses. Hermes had served its purpose.
The shutdown followed a clear schedule, aligned with the entry into force of the B2B mandate.
- 1
Hermes decommissioned
31 December 2025The platform stops receiving and converting invoices.
- 2
B2B mandate
1 January 2026Structured e-invoicing becomes the rule between Belgian VAT-registered businesses.
- 3
End of read-only access
March 2026Last window to consult the history of invoices that passed through Hermes.
The alignment of dates is no coincidence. Hermes shuts down precisely when the B2B mandate takes effect: from then on, every VAT-registered business must be able to receive its invoices in structured form, which an email relay could not provide. For the full calendar and the businesses concerned, see Peppol Belgium: the B2B mandate on 1 January 2026.
How to receive your Peppol invoices today
The replacement for Hermes is not another public service: it is your own connection to the network. In practice, you choose invoicing software connected to a Peppol access point, register your company number in it, and become reachable on the network at your Belgian Peppol address (the 0208 prefix, which identifies your company number).
From then on, the invoices your suppliers send you arrive directly in your tool, in structured form. The difference with Hermes is significant: you no longer receive a PDF image to re-key, but a file that the software reads, files and can reconcile against your payments automatically.
| Yesterday with Hermes | Today with an access point | |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice received in structured form | ||
| Automatic processing by the software | ||
| Plain PDF by email | Optional | |
| Lasting service after 2025 |
For the practical details of this connection, read Peppol access point: what it is and how to connect and, on the receiving side, Receiving e-invoices.
Keeping the email convenience, without Hermes
Many companies valued how simple Hermes was: one invoice, one email, nothing to install. That convenience did not disappear with the service. Many compliant tools send an email notification as soon as an invoice arrives, with a preview or an attached PDF, on top of storing the usable structured version.
So you keep the comfort of "I get an email", while enjoying the real advantage of the structured format: no re-keying, simpler checking and up-to-date accounts. This dual delivery does depend on the provider, so confirm it when choosing your tool.
If you relied on Hermes, here is what to do
Choose software connected to Peppol
It must receive and send invoices in the Peppol BIS profile.
Register your company number
You become reachable on the network at your Belgian Peppol address (0208 prefix).
Check the email notification
If you wanted to keep receiving a PDF by email, confirm the tool offers it.
Tell your suppliers if needed
They will now send their invoices to you directly over the network.
Receive your Peppol invoices without relying on an external relay
YouInv connects you to the Peppol network to receive and send your structured invoices, fully compliant.
What the handover really means
Hermes was an effective crutch while the Peppol network became widespread. Its closure is not a loss of service, but a sign that the ecosystem is ready: receiving your invoices in structured form, through an access point, has become the norm rather than the exception. The right move today is to choose a compliant tool and connect to it, rather than look for a substitute for a service that no longer has a reason to exist.
Further reading
- Peppol access point: what it is and how to connect: the gateway to the network.
- Receiving e-invoices: the receiving obligation and how to set it up.
- Peppol Belgium: the B2B mandate on 1 January 2026: who is concerned and from when.
The reference source stands: the official portal e-invoice.belgium.be published by the Belgian federal administration.
Does the Hermes Peppol service still exist?
No. Hermes was decommissioned by the Belgian federal administration at the end of 2025. Read-only access was kept until March 2026 so users could consult their history, after which the platform stopped working. To receive your Peppol invoices, you now use a Peppol access point through compliant software.
What was Hermes used for?
Hermes was a free federal public service that received, on behalf of Belgian companies not yet connected to Peppol, the invoices sent to them over the network. It converted them into a PDF and emailed it to the recipient. It was a temporary relay, designed for the transition to e-invoicing.
How do I receive my Peppol invoices now that Hermes is closed?
By connecting to the Peppol network through an access point provided by compliant invoicing software. You then receive structured invoices directly in your tool. Since 1 January 2026, receiving structured e-invoices is the rule for B2B transactions between Belgian VAT-registered businesses.
Can I still receive my invoices as a PDF by email, like with Hermes?
Yes, but differently. Some access points and software send an email notification with a preview or a PDF of the received invoice, in addition to storing it in structured form. This convenience depends on the provider you choose; it is not offered by all of them.
I was using Hermes: what should I do?
Choose invoicing software connected to Peppol and register your company number in it. You then become reachable on the network at your Belgian Peppol address (the 0208 prefix) and receive your invoices directly in the tool, without relying on an external relay.
