France’s updated e-Invoicing technical standards: XP Z12-012 and XP Z12-014

Navigating the latest requirements for France’s B2B e-Invoicing mandate

France’s mandatory B2B e-invoicing reform will change the way invoices are created, exchanged, and reported nationwide. The final step in this multi-year journey arrives on September 1, 2026, when all affected businesses must comply with a unified, standards-driven system.

On July 31, 2025, the Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR), in collaboration with the Forum National de la Facture Électronique et des Marchés Publics Électroniques (FNFE-MPE), published updated versions of two essential standards:

• XP Z12-012: defining invoice formats and status message profiles. 
• XP Z12-014: describing approved B2B use cases for e-invoicing under the reform. 

These standards form the socle minimal d’interopérabilité, which represents the minimal interoperability framework that ensures every platform, from ERP systems to Plateformes de Dématérialisation Partenaires (PDPs), can communicate seamlessly with the Portail Public de Facturation (PPF) and with each other.

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Why are the updated standards essential for France’s e-Invoicing model?

France’s e-invoicing model is built on three main pillars:

1. Standardized Formats: All invoices and credit notes must use a structured, machine-readable format consistent with European standards.
2. Lifecycle Status Tracking: Invoices must include and exchange status updates throughout their journey, from issuance to payment.
3. Central Reporting: Invoice data must be sent to the PPF for tax monitoring and compliance.

The XP Z12-012 and XP Z12-014 standards translate these high-level legal and tax authority requirements into detailed, actionable rules for IT and finance teams. Without strict adherence to these standards, invoice data can fail validation, leading to delivery failures, payment delays, or compliance breaches.

✨ Need a registered PDP platform to comply with the French e-invoicing mandate? Tradeshift is the right choice for enterprise businesses.

A deeper look at the updated standards: XP Z12-012 and XP Z12-014

XP Z12-012: Formats and Profiles

The XP Z12-012 standard specifies the rules for:

• Invoice and credit note formats: These are aligned with the European Norm EN 16931 for cross-border compatibility.
• Status message profiles: These are standardized messages used to track invoice lifecycle events, such as “received,” “accepted,” “rejected,” and “paid.”
• Structured examples: Annexes provide real XML samples to guide technical implementation.

The July 2025 update brings key changes, including:

• Closer alignment with EN 16931 for broader interoperability.
• More precise definitions of status messages for consistent use across all platforms.
• Clearer support for different invoice types, including self-billing and credit notes.

For enterprises, this means your ERP or invoicing platform must be able to produce data that exactly matches these profiles. Otherwise, your invoices will be rejected before they can reach your customer.

XP Z12-014: Use Cases

XP Z12-014 defines the approved use cases for exchanging invoices and status messages between businesses. It explains:

• Which message types are required in specific B2B scenarios.
• The order in which these messages must be sent.
• How to manage status updates when multiple platforms are involved.

The key changes in the July 2025 update include:

• Expanded coverage of scenarios, including direct exchanges and transactions via the PPF.
• Stricter sequencing rules to remove ambiguity in multi-platform environments.
• Better guidance on maintaining consistent data throughout the entire invoice lifecycle.

Example: When a supplier sends an invoice through their registered PDP to a buyer’s registered PDP, a specific sequence of messages must be followed. The invoice must be sent in the XP Z12-012 format, followed by an acknowledgment of receipt, and potentially a rejection or payment status notice.

The next major revision of the standards, planned for October, is set to broaden the scope of available profiles. It will introduce new data fields, add support for multi-vendor invoicing, incorporate scenarios for B2C e-reporting, and bring further refinements in line with ongoing developments to the European standard EN 16931.

How Tradeshift is ready today for the e-Invoicing mandate

The updated standards are designed to ensure every approved platform in France “speaks the same language.” This guarantees that:

• PDPs can exchange invoices without format conflicts.
• Lifecycle statuses remain synchronized across systems.
• Data stays consistent all the way to reporting in the PPF.

Without strict adherence to XP Z12-012 and XP Z12-014, these guarantees break down, creating operational risk.

Tradeshift has been a certified Peppol Access Point since 2014 and became a registered PDP (PDP immatriculée) on August 19, 2024 with our registration number 0036. 

As of June 12, 2025, we have completed the Annuaire tests and are live in production, as one of just 49 PDPs out of roughly 100 to reach this stage. We have also successfully completed interoperability testing with other PDPs, demonstrating our platform’s ability to connect seamlessly.

Our platform goes beyond just compliance. We offer:

• Scale and reliability: We handle over 10 million documents monthly for more than 150,000 businesses across 200 countries.
• Global compliance power: We support e-invoicing and e-reporting in 69 countries and are ready for clearance models in 12 markets.
• Deep experience: We have trusted integrations with key systems like France’s Chorus Pro, and our technology powers Belgium’s Mercurius and Luxembourg’s B2G systems.
• Beyond Compliance: We offer an AI-powered ecosystem for AP automation, cash flow optimization, and supplier collaboration.

With just a year remaining until the mandate takes effect, choosing a reliable and experienced PDP is crucial. Find out how Tradeshift can help you achieve e-invoicing compliance in France and beyond.