The Countdown to Belgium’s E-Invoicing Mandate: Where Do Companies Stand?

With just 100 days to go, Belgium’s e-invoicing mandate is approaching fast. Starting 1 January 2026, all companies performing domestic B2B transactions must be able to exchange invoices through the Peppol networking the EN 16931-compliant format.

But where do Belgian companies currently stand in terms of readiness, and what explains the low adoption rate so far? This article outlines the key challenges, common misconceptions, and practical steps businesses should take now to ensure compliance before the January 2026 deadline.

Adoption status: only 30% registered

Belgium has around 1.2 million companies. At the time of writing, roughly 400,000 are listed in the Peppol directory—an adoption rate of about 30%. This is a worryingly low figure given the limited time remaining. Recognizing the gap, the Belgian government conducted a review and launched a questionnaire to better understand why many companies have not yet registered.

Eight reasons for delays

The government’s findings highlighted eight main factors holding companies back:

• Lack of awareness: not realizing obligations apply.
• Conscious non-compliance: choosing not to comply.
• PDF confusion: believing that PDF invoices are compliant.
• Strategic delay: deliberately waiting until the mandate takes effect.
• Vendor readiness: waiting on service providers to finalize infrastructure.
• Technical preparation: working on process automation and accounting system readiness.
• Postponement speculation: uncertainty over whether the mandate would be delayed.
• Misinterpreted exemptions: incorrectly assuming the mandate does not cover them.

These reasons mirror patterns seen in other European e-invoicing rollouts: adoption rises sharply as deadlines near, but many companies risk last-minute bottlenecks.

Clearing up common misunderstandings

Several misconceptions are still causing hesitation. Here are the key clarifications:

• Alternative methods: Other electronic formats may be used if they are EN-compliant and convertible, but all companies must still be able to send and receive invoices through Peppol.
• Mandate postponement: The Belgian government has been firm—there will be no delay or grace period. The start date of 1 January 2026 stands.
• Vendor readiness: Basware already supports Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 and transactions through the Peppol network.
• Delaying action: The closer the deadline, the heavier the registration traffic. Early preparation means fewer risks—and a stress-free holiday season.

How to check your readiness

To confirm whether your company is on track:

• Visit the Peppol Directory and search for your company.

If you are listed: You are on the right track. Next, confirm that you can send and receive EN-compliant data.

If you are not listed: Take action now by registering with your service provider. Validate your data exchange capabilities to ensure smooth compliance.

Basware is here to support you

Basware enables full compliance with the Belgian e-invoicing mandate. Our solutions support Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 and ensure secure, compliant invoice exchange across the Peppol network.

Don’t wait until the last minute. Act now to secure compliance, avoid unnecessary stress, and enter 2026 fully prepared.

Contact Basware Support to discuss your next steps and ensure your organization is ready.

And to stay a step ahead of changing regulations, check out our constantly updated Compliance Map for Belgium or download our Checklist for the Belgian e-invoicing mandate.