Peppol & e-Invoicing in Belgium: 6 Myths (and the Real Deal)

As 2026 looms, a lot of myths swirl around e-invoicing and the upcoming obligation for Belgian businesses. Many entrepreneurs hear things like “It’s only for big companies,” or “It’s too expensive,” or “It doesn’t concern me.”At PeppolEDGE, we’ve been through these questions over and over, and we’re here to clear the fog.

Here are the 6 most common myths, and what the facts really are.

Myth 1: “Peppol & e-invoicing in Belgium is only for B2B (business-to-business)”

❌ False.

It’s true that starting 1 January 2026, the e-invoicing obligation in Belgium applies to B2B transactions between two VAT-liable Belgian entities.

But: even if you only provide services to private clients (B2C), you may still need to register on Peppol, to receive e-invoices from your suppliers.

So B2C ≠ exclusion. If you buy goods or services from VAT-liable suppliers, you must be ready to receive structured invoices.

Myth 2: “Small businesses exempt from VAT don’t have to send e-invoices”

❌ False.

In Belgium, even small businesses under the “VAT exemption” scheme are considered VAT-liable. The e-invoicing obligation includes all VAT-liable entities, regardless of turnover.

If you’re VAT-liable, even with a tiny business, you need to comply by 2026.

Myth 3: “Peppol / e-invoicing is expensive and complicated”

❌ Largely false.

For Peppol & e-Invoicing in Belgium the barrier to entry has dropped significantly.

While switching from Word/Excel invoices to structured e-invoices does require adopting software, there are many affordable and user-friendly solutions now available (especially for SMEs and freelancers). Over time, using e-invoicing actually reduces costs: less manual entry, fewer errors, faster processing, better tracking, and lower administrative burden.

With the right tool, for example, PeppolEDGE, you avoid heavy infrastructure or complex migrations.

Myth 4: “I’m part-time self-employed / small freelancer → I’m exempt.”

❌ False.

The rule doesn’t care about full-time vs part-time. If you’re VAT-liable and issue invoices to other companies, the mandate applies — even if you only do a few per month.

Only very specific exempt categories (e.g. certain professions under Article 44) are excluded.

Myth 5: “A Structured PDF by email is as good as an e-invoice”

❌ False.

A PDF by email, even if it’s “electronic”, is not a structured e-invoice.

A proper e-invoice is a machine-readable document (e.g. XML/UBL) sent through a secure network like Peppol.

From 2026, for transactions between VAT-liable Belgian companies, PDFs and paper invoices will no longer be compliant.

Myth 6: “Peppol means a huge admin burden and extra work.”

❌ Actually, the opposite.

Once set up, e-invoicing automates most of the billing lifecycle: sending, receiving, archiving, reconciliation. No more manual data entry, no more lost invoices, less errors, more control.

Flying blind with paper or PDFs becomes the risk, not the structured invoice.

Why Peppol is Actually a Smart Move ?

• Standardisation & compliance: Peppol uses agreed standards (Peppol-BIS, EN16931, UBL) that ensure interoperability and legal compliance across Europe.

  
  

• Security & reliability: The Peppol network works via certified Access Points, secure, encrypted, traceable. Much safer than email or ad-hoc file transfers.

  
  

• Future-proofing: As Belgium moves toward 2026, plus eventual e-reporting and further digital fiscalization, being Peppol-ready means being ahead of the curve.

  
  

• Efficiency gains: Reduction of manual tasks, faster processing, easier bookkeeping, fewer errors, all that adds up.

  
  

At PeppolEDGE, we built our offering around this reality: no heavy modifications to your ERP, no useless complexity, just smart compliance and smooth workflows.

💡 Thinking about making the switch?

If you’re wondering whether Peppol concerns you, or how to implement it smoothly, here’s what you should check now:

1. Are you VAT-liable in Belgium?

   
   

2. Do you invoice companies (B2B) or receive invoices from suppliers?

   
   

3. Do you have software (or plan to adopt one) compatible with Peppol-BIS structured e-invoices or can PeppolEDGE help you transform those Invoices into UBL BIS V3 ?

   
   

4. Is your accounting ready for automated invoice processing instead of manual PDFs?

   
   

If the answer to any of these is “yes”, then it’s time to consider PeppolEDGE as your gateway to compliant, flexible and efficient e-invoicing.

Peppol isn’t a trap. It’s infrastructure. A tool. A step forward. And with the right partner (hint: that’s us), it stops being a burden. it becomes an asset.