How to send a Peppol invoice (step by step)
Updated July 2026
Sending a Peppol invoice requires no technical skill. With compatible software it takes a few clicks: create the invoice, enter the client's identifier, check the mandatory details, then click send. Here is the procedure and the mistakes to avoid.
What you need before you start
Three things are enough to issue your first electronic invoice via Peppol:
- Your company number (CBE) — it acts as your address on the Peppol network
- Peppol-compatible invoicing software (it registers you and sends)
- Your client's identifier: their company or VAT number
The steps, one by one
- 1Create the invoice in your software: select the client, add the lines (description, quantity, price), apply the right VAT rate (6% or 21%).
- 2Enter the client's Peppol identifier: their company number (CBE) or VAT number. That is the "address" the invoice is routed to.
- 3Check the mandatory details (see the list below): a simple check before sending avoids a rejection.
- 4Click "Send via Peppol". The software converts the invoice to the structured format (UBL) and hands it to the network via an access point.
- 5Check the send status: your software shows whether the invoice was transmitted (and often, accepted by the recipient).
The mandatory details to check
A Peppol invoice is still an invoice: it must contain the usual legal details. Before sending, check:
- The date and a sequential invoice number
- Your full details and your VAT number
- The client's details and company / VAT number
- The description of the goods or services
- The net amount, the rate and the VAT amount, the total to pay
- The payment due date and, ideally, a structured reference
How do I know if my client can receive Peppol?
Most Belgian B2B businesses will be reachable on Peppol in 2026. In practice, your software checks whether the recipient is registered on the network from their company number.
If the client is not (yet) reachable via Peppol, good software offers a fallback — for example a PDF by e-mail — until everyone is set up.
What happens after sending?
The invoice lands directly in your client's accounting software, as structured data, ready to be processed and paid. You don't need to send a PDF as well: the Peppol invoice is the official one.
For tracking, the "sent" then often "accepted" status confirms everything went through.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Getting the client's company / VAT number wrong (the invoice doesn't arrive)
- Applying the wrong VAT rate (6% instead of 21% on renovation, or vice versa)
- Forgetting a mandatory detail (number, due date, net amount…)
- Sending a PDF by e-mail thinking it is Peppol — it is not
Frequently asked questions
Do I need technical skills to send a Peppol invoice?+
No. Compatible invoicing software generates the structured format and sends it via an access point. You never handle an XML file.
Do I still have to send a PDF alongside?+
No. The structured Peppol invoice is the official one. Some software also makes a readable PDF for your own archive, but that is not what the client receives.
How do I find my client's Peppol address?+
In Belgium, the identifier is usually based on the client's company number (CBE) or VAT number. You enter it in the software, which routes the invoice.
What if my client is not on Peppol?+
In 2026, most B2B businesses will be. Meanwhile, good software automatically switches to a fallback send (for example a PDF by e-mail).
Send your Peppol invoices in one click
With Afrimo, you go from quote to compliant Peppol invoice with no re-entry: the right VAT, a check before sending, and sending over the network — in FR/NL/EN.
This article is informational and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Details and terms may change: check your situation with the tax authorities or your accountant.