Belgium’s 2026 E-Invoicing Mandate: How to Get Ready with Peppol and Tradeshift

All Belgian VAT-registered businesses must send and receive structured e-invoices via Peppol starting January 1, 2026. Here’s how Tradeshift helps you stay compliant

By Ioana Ploesteanu, Product Marketing Manager, Tradeshift

From 1 January 2026, Belgium will embark on a transformative shift in the way businesses handle invoicing. VAT-registered enterprises will no longer be allowed to rely on PDFs sent by e-mail or unstructured methods. Instead, structured electronic invoicing via Peppol becomes mandatory for all B2B transactions. 

This move is driven by Belgium’s commitment to reducing VAT fraud, accelerating digital adoption, and aligning with Europe’s VAT in the Digital Age strategy. As the January 2026 deadline approaches, companies must take action to ensure compliance and stay competitive. But where should they begin?

👉 Our Peppol guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to leverage Peppol for e-Invoicing compliance.

What the mandate requires from businesses

Starting January 2026, every Belgian enterprise with a valid VAT number must issue and receive structured e-invoices that comply with the European EN 16931 (Peppol BIS 3.0) format. Today’s accepted practices, such as PDFs, traditional EDI, or audit-compliant file storage, will no longer meet the legal requirements. 

These invoices will need to pass directly between the sender’s and receiver’s systems through a Peppol Access Point. Businesses that fail to adapt before the deadline may face significant disruptions and risk falling out of compliance.

The mandate applies to business-to-business transactions. Although invoices sent to private individuals are not covered, businesses must still be able to receive structured e-invoices from suppliers. Beyond ensuring compliance, this shift also opens the door to automation, faster processing, and improved transparency.

What Is Peppol and how It works

Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement Online) is based on a four-corner model that connects the sender to the receiver through two certified Access Points. The OpenPeppol association, headquartered in Belgium, governs this framework. Today, Peppol connects more than 1.4 million participants across 98 countries. 

Here’s how it works in practice:

1. Structured standard: All e-invoices follow the Peppol BIS 3.0 format, ensuring machine-readability and interoperability. 
2. Access Point connection: Each business works with a certified Access Point (AP) to send and receive invoices. These APs handle packaging, routing, and validation. 
3. No bilateral setup required: Companies do not need individual agreements with each partner. The Peppol Directory ensures recipients can be identified and reached efficiently.  
4. Interoperability and control: Thanks to its open standards and strict governance, Peppol offers a reliable and transparent exchange for both companies and public institutions. 

In practical terms, this means Belgian businesses will benefit from seamless invoice exchange once connected. All the technical aspects, from validation to delivery, are handled by the Access Points, allowing finance teams to focus on core operations.

👉 Check out our global e-invoicing compliance coverage. We offer compliance as a service in 60+ countries and compliance with clearance requirements in 12 countries.

Why Tradeshift Is your ideal compliance partner

1. Certified Peppol Access Point

Tradeshift Belgium has been a fully certified Peppol Access Point and SMP since 2014. We have powered national platforms, including Mercurius, the Belgian government’s B2G e-invoicing gateway. This means our infrastructure is not only certified but already operating at scale for critical public-sector processes.

2. Our powerful middleware

Our middleware, Babelway, embedded in the Tradeshift platform, simplifies Peppol connectivity. Businesses can go live in just a few steps: provide your Peppol ID, select supported documents, and start exchanging invoices. There is no need for custom coding or complex EDI mapping. And because Mercurius is powered by Babelway, Belgian businesses can trust they’re working with proven, government-grade technology.

3. Global compliance expertise

Tradeshift supports e-invoicing compliance in 60+ countries, including 12 markets with real-time tax clearance models. We have helped companies navigate mandates across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Our platform is built for regulatory agility and long-term compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

4. A competitive advantage through simplicity

The Belgian e-invoicing mandate is not only a compliance challenge. It also creates an opportunity to reduce manual work, speed up payments, and unlock real-time visibility into cash flow. With Tradeshift Belgium, your organization can move beyond baseline compliance and gain a digital edge.

Only 6 months until the mandate goes into effect

As a certified Peppol Access Point and the provider behind Belgium’s Mercurius platform, Tradeshift offers not only compliance but a path to greater efficiency.

Companies that prepare early will reduce disruption and unlock the full potential of automated invoicing. Those who delay risk scrambling at the last minute.

Now is the time to act. Reach out to Tradeshift and ensure your business is ready for January 2026—not just compliant, but future-proof.