Is Your Company Ready? Upcoming Obligations of the French e-Invoice Mandate and Non-Compliance Sanctions

UPDATE 08-2023: The French government announced on July 28, 2023, that it was decided to postpone the implementation of the system, originally scheduled for July 1, 2024, in order to allow sufficient time for this reform to be a success. The date of the postponement will be defined as part of the work to adopt the Finance Act for 2024. Therefore, all dates mentioned in this blog are subject to further change.

The French government introduced the e-invoice mandate, making it mandatory in France for large taxpayers to issue electronic invoices, provide e-reporting in B2B transactions as of July 2024, and to receive e-invoices for all taxpayers. 

While this transition brings many benefits, the e-invoice mandate in France is not to be taken lightly. Non-compliance can lead to severe consequences, including administrative penalties, reputational damage, and operational inefficiencies.

Let's take a closer look at what your business could potentially face by failing to adhere. 

Disrupted Business Operations 

Failure to issue e-invoices can disrupt your business operations. Non-compliant invoices may not be recognised as valid documents by the tax authorities, which could result in delayed payments and strained relationships with suppliers or customers. This can have a cascading effect on your cash flow and overall business performance. 

 Monetary penalties 

Based on the Law No. 2022-1157, Amending Finance Law 2022 published in the French Official Gazette, companies that fail to issue e-invoices may face significant financial consequences*. 

• The penalties for non-compliance include a fine of €15 per invoice for failure to issue an invoice in electronic format, with a maximum cap of €15,000 per calendar year per company. 
• Additionally, failure to report the file online may result in a fine of €250 per transmission, also capped at €15,000 per calendar year. 
• Furthermore, partner dematerialization platforms (PDPs) that do not provide the required information to the tax authorities may be penalized with fines of €15 per invoice and €750 per transmission, with both penalties capped at €45,000 per calendar year. 

Audit Scrutiny

Non-compliance with the e-invoice mandate may raise red flags during tax audits. The French tax authorities have access to extensive data on electronic transactions, allowing them to identify businesses that are not adhering to the regulations. Being subjected to a tax audit can be time-consuming, costly, and can negatively impact your business's reputation. 

Selecting the right partner 

To avoid penalties for non-compliance with this upcoming regulation, now is the time to select a partner dematerialization platform (PDP) that will be able to manage both the reception and the sending of electronic invoices. Beyond complying with regulatory requirements, mandatory electronic invoicing is an opportunity to go further by digitising and automating your customer and supplier accounting processes. It is important to ensure that your partner (current or future) is able to meet the requirements of this reform, as well as your short- and medium-term needs.

For a checklist on how to select a suitable platform, check out this blog.

Prepare now 

Learn more about mandatory e-invoicing in France from 2024 onwards or contact our team to talk to our experts. Now is the time to begin preparing for this reform! 

*It should be noted that the first offense of these penalties committed by the operator would not be punished according to the administration.