January 8th, 2021

Do you often do business with foreign countries within and/or outside of Europe? Then it’s important for you to know everything that will change in 2021. Here you can read changes that have already taken place as of January 1st, 2021, as well as upcoming changes that will take place in the new year.

Please note that certain deadlines may be delayed as a result of COVID-19.

E-Invoicing Deadlines 2021: European Union (EU)

In Greece,  there isn’t an e-invoicing requirement per se, but there is a reporting obligation for eBooks. This is what the myDATA platform is used for. The idea was that from October 1st, 2020, all companies would be required to provide an overview of issued invoices, as well as the classification of invoices received, in the platform. This would ideally apply to all invoices, regardless of how it was sent. For example, via an ERP system or through an e-invoicing service provider.

However, this deadline has been postponed to April 1st, 2021 in connection with COVID-19.

Hungary has introduced mandatory invoice reporting for all B2B and B2C invoices from January 1st, 2021. Both invoices from within the country and abroad must be declared. In addition, they’ve introduced a new XML structure, 3.0 XSD, which was also mandated on January 1st. The rules of the comprehensive reporting obligation and the preparation of VAT returns are contained in the tax law amending the CXVIII Act of 2020.

Italy has introduced a new invoice standard, FatturaPA XML: Schedule 1.2.1. This standard should be used from January 1st, 2021. Additionally, new archiving rules will apply from June 7th, 2021.

In Portugal,  B2G e-invoicing became mandatory for large companies on January 1st, 2021. From July 1st, 2021, B2G e-invoicing will become mandatory for small and medium-sized enterprises. Read more about it here.  

In Serbia, B2G e-invoicing will become mandatory on July 1st, 2021.

In Spain, new invoice fields and validation methods were introduced on January 1st, 2021. In the new fields, consignment sales (Venta de bienes and consigna) are registered  so that these transactions are able to be registered in the Spanish Tax Administration (Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria, or  AEAT) from January 1st, 2021.

Turkey will require an e-invoicing system and e-arşiv invoices for companies with an annual turnover of more than TRY 5 million (approx. 550 thousand euros) from July 1st, 2021.

E-Invoicing Deadlines 2021: Outside of the EU

In Albania, e-invoices for business-to-government (B2G) transactions must be used from  January 1st, 2021.  For business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions, it will take a little longer. The new procedures for these business categories will go into effect on July 1st, 2021 and September 1st, 2021, respectively.

Chile initially wanted to require all taxpayers to process B2C invoices electronically from March 1st, 2020.  However, COVID-19 postponed this deadline to January 1st, 2021. From March 1st, 2021, this obligation will also apply to non-taxpayers.

In  Guatemala, from April 1st, 2021, the FEL e-invoicing system will be extended to include public suppliers—suppliers of goods or services which are characterized as direct or small-scale purchases—as well as companies that manage state resources. Suppliers of small-scale purchases whose turnover  does not exceed 2,500 Quetzals  (approx. 260 euros) are exempt. Taxpayers providing technical services to public institutions and organizations using the electronic FACE invoice have been required to be included in the FEL system from January 1st, 2021.

In India, B2B e-invoicing is mandatory for all companies with an annual turnover of more than 100 crore (approx. 12 million euros). From April 1st, 2021, B2B e-invoicing will become mandatory for all companies.

Peru will change the requirements for issuing electronic payment certificates, electronic invoices, and electronic credit notes on April 1st, 2021. The change obliges the companies in question to specify the form of the payment: cash or credit.

Saudi Arabia will require B2B e-invoicing from December 4th, 2021.