E-invoicing, mandatory in Belgium from 2026
Starting January 1, 2026, it will be mandatory in Belgium to send electronic invoices via the Peppol network in both B2G and B2B contexts. Fortunately, Odoo 18 provides everything you need to make this transition smoothly and efficiently.
In this article, we explain what Peppol is, how Odoo integrates with it, and the concrete steps your company needs to take to be fully prepared for Peppol.
What is Peppol?
Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online: https://peppol.org/) is a secure, standardized network that enables companies to send and receive electronic documents, such as invoices, digitally. Public authorities and a growing number of companies require their suppliers to use Peppol for electronic invoicing. Belgium will gradually implement this requirement by 2026.
Why this evolution?
The European Union is deploying Peppol to modernize invoicing and strengthen tax compliance.
The goal: to combat VAT fraud, improve transparency between businesses and administrations, and automate financial exchanges on a European scale.
In other words, it is a decisive step toward a safer, faster, and more integrated digital economy.
What this means for Odoo users
Starting in 2026, your Odoo will need to be connected to the Peppol network and capable of issuing invoices in the correct electronic format.
Gone are the days of PDFs sent by email or manual exports: everything will go through a standardized and automated exchange between systems.
Good news ! Odoo 18 already includes this functionality, allowing you to be ready before the deadline..
Why Odoo 18?
With Odoo 18, you have a direct and integrated Peppol connection. Odoo itself acts as a Peppol access point, which means you don't need to use a third party to send or receive electronic invoices. The integration is also available free of charge, including in the community edition.
The risks of ignoring Peppol
Failing to prepare for Peppol means taking the risk of serious disruptions in your invoicing.
Non-compliant invoices may be rejected by your clients or by the authorities, leading to payment delays and additional workload for your accounting team.
Beyond time loss, you also expose yourself to administrative penalties for non-compliance with legal obligations.
In short, ignoring Peppol today is postponing an inevitable change and paying the price tomorrow.
Step-by-step guide: how to prepare for Peppol with Odoo 18
1. Install and activate the Peppol module
- Go to Applications and search for “Peppol” or “account_peppol.”
- Install the module and activate Peppol under Accounting → Settings.
- Odoo will ask you to register your business on the network with: Your contact details and a verification code (via SMS or email)
2. Complete your registration
- After verification, you will receive either “Can Send” or “Can Receive” status.
- This status will be displayed in your settings and your company profile.
- You are now officially connected to the Peppol network.
3. Set up your billing correctly
- Connect a sales journal to Peppol.
- Define the invoice format you use (in Belgium, BIS Billing 3.0).
- Check that your customers are registered as recipients (Peppol ID + endpoint).
Peppol BIS Billing 3.0: is the standard format used for electronic invoicing in public procurement in Belgium.
4. Send electronic invoices via Peppol
- Create an invoice as usual in Odoo.
- Click Send & Print and check Send via Peppol.
- Odoo automatically generates the electronic invoice in the appropriate format and sends it via the network.
5. Receive electronic invoices from your suppliers
- Odoo automatically retrieves incoming invoices and adds them to your accounting records.
- You can do this manually via Fetch from Peppol or via a scheduled task (cron job).
Cron Job: is a scheduled task using cron, a scheduling tool that automatically runs a script or command at specified intervals on Unix-based operating systems.
6. Track the status of your invoices
Each invoice is assigned a status, such as:
- Currently being processed
- Delivered
- Accepted
- Rejected
This way, you can easily stay informed about what happens to your invoice once it reaches the recipient. Then, proceed with a new registration. You can also follow these steps through Odoo’s documentation.
"We activated Peppol in less than 3 days thanks to Odoo, which helped us avoid payment delays!" - Client
Summary – Peppol in Odoo 18 in 8 steps
- Install the Peppol module
- Activate and register your business
- Check your endpoint
- Set up billing and customers
- Send your invoices via Peppol
- Automatically receive invoices from your suppliers
- Track shipping status updates
- Test and manage your configuration intelligently
Common mistakes to avoid when implementing Peppol
Even with Odoo 18, certain common mistakes can complicate your transition to Peppol. Here are the most frequent ones and how to avoid them:
-
Incorrect access point: If your company is not connected to the correct endpoint, your invoices may be rejected.
👉 Always check your Peppol registration and your partners' registrations before sending your first invoices. - Invalid format : A simple missing field or incorrect XML format can block transmission. 👉 Use Odoo 18's Peppol module to automatically generate files compliant with the BIS Billing 3.0 standard.
-
Forgotten registration : Some companies forget to activate their Peppol ID with their access point.
👉 Make sure you are registered and validated in the Peppol network before testing or sending real invoices. -
No prior testing : Many wait until the deadline to set up Peppol.
👉 Run tests now to detect any configuration errors before 2026.
Every day counts before the 2026 deadline.
Preparing for your transition to Peppol with Odoo 18 means securing your payments, reducing errors, and saving time for your accounting.
Our Nalios team can help you set up Peppol and validate your flows in just a few days.
Free Peppol in Odoo 18
In this video, you will learn how to comply with electronic invoicing in just a few seconds.
Would you prefer to get some advice ?
Free Peppol in Odoo 18
In this video, you will learn how to comply with electronic invoicing in just a few seconds.
Would you prefer to get some advice ?