Europe is on the cusp of a major change in the way companies exchange invoices. Under the banner of VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) e-invoicing will become the norm. Germany took the first step on January 1, 2025, Belgium will follow in 2026, and from 2030, European requirements for cross-border B2B transactions will apply. Member states will also be able to mandate domestic e-invoicing sooner.
What is ViDA and why is it important?
ViDA is modernizing VAT rules. The goal: less fraud, faster VAT reporting, and more efficient processes. E-invoices will become mandatory for cross-border B2B transactions, and stricter deadlines will apply, such as issuing within ten days. This requires standardized, machine-readable formats that can be processed automatically.
Germany: first phase started in 2025
Since January 1, 2025, all German companies must be able to receive structured e-invoices. This makes Germany the first major EU country to implement B2B e-invoicing on a broad scale.
Sending e-invoices will be phased in. Large companies must comply sooner, while smaller businesses have an extension until 2028 at the latest. Only structured formats compliant with the European standard EN 16931, such as XRechnung and ZUGFeRD, are valid.
Belgium: mandatory B2B from 2026
Belgium will follow shortly after: from 1 January 2026, e-invoicing mandatory For all VAT-registered B2B businesses. A PDF via email will no longer be accepted. Invoices must be structured and machine-readable, and preferably exchanged via Peppol.
The government provides lists of compliant software and training courses so that companies can prepare in time.
Netherlands: B2G mandatory, B2B in preparation
In the Netherlands, e-invoicing is moving towards government (B2G) Already mandatory. There is no legal requirement for B2B transactions yet, but The Hague is aligning its policy with ViDA.
Many organizations are already ahead of the curve: 56% of accounting firms have taken measures to implement e-invoicing. This will prevent them from falling behind when European regulations apply to B2B as well from 2030.
EU framework: ViDA by 2030
- With ViDA, the European Commission is laying the foundation for a uniform approach:
- From 1 July 2030, structured e-invoices will be mandatory for cross-border B2B transactions.
- Invoices must be issued within ten days.
- Only machine-readable formats in accordance with the European standard EN 16931 are permitted.
Why start now?
Practices are already moving. By starting with e-invoicing now, you can prevent duplicate invoice flows and costly emergency measures. The benefits are immediately visible: faster processing, fewer errors, better insight into financial data, and compliance with laws and regulations.
Ready to take the leap toward 2030? Schedule a short brainstorming session with our team. We'll show you how to integrate e-invoicing into your software smartly and securely.