Compliance Category: Información de la normativa

Italy / San Marino – mandatory e-invoicing for transactions

There has now been some further progress around transactions between Italy and San Marino – the Italian Revenue Agency has published technical specifications via Provision no. 2021/211273. These technical specifications will provide details around how invoices will be issued and received with San Marino residents for goods and services.

Here are some key dates to watch out for:

  • 1st October 2021- the Decree comes into force;
  • Until 30th June 2022- paper invoices can still be issued;
  • 1st July 2022: Mandatory for Italian taxpayers to issue only e-invoices.

Further changes in the e-invoicing mandate

In Saudi Arabia, the deadline for the implementation of Phase 2 of the e-invoicing mandate has been delayed to 1st January 2023 and it will be implemented in waves by targeted taxpayer groups. Select taxpayer groups will be informed 6 months prior to the go-live date.

In relation to Phase 1 – the Generation Phase, which will be enforced by December 4th, 2021, there is no prescribed invoice format. However, e-invoices must be issued as a structured file. This means that from the implementation date, paper and PDF invoices no longer qualify as valid tax invoices.

The mandate rules for Phase 2 remain unchanged. E-invoices must be issued in XML/Hybrid (PDF A-3) format and suppliers will need to clear the invoices with GAZT before sending these to buyers. Due to the technical nature of the requirements in Phase 2, taxpayers are encouraged to consult a solution provider or their internal technical teams to ensure their e-invoicing systems comply with ZACTA (General Authority for Zakat and Tax) requirements.

Introduction to Vietnam’s mandatory e-invoicing

In 2020, Vietnam delayed its implementation date of mandatory electronic invoicing until July 1, 2022. So far, we have not heard signals that suggest any further delay.

From July 2022, paper and PDF invoices no longer qualify as valid tax invoices. Under the mandate, the e-invoice must be in XML format, include a digital signature and be securely stored for ten years. In addition, Invoices need to be in Vietnamese language; a second language is allowed. The second language needs to be placed in brackets next to the Vietnamese texts or under the Vietnamese texts using a smaller font.

There will be two types of e-invoices: the e-invoice with tax verification code and e-invoice without tax verification code. The process with the tax verification code is so -called pre-clearance where invoice data must be submitted to the tax office (GDT- General Department of Tax). Upon registration and approval of the invoice data, the tax office returns a specific code that needs to be included in the invoice that is sent to the buyer. The requirement to add a tax verification code to the invoices depends on the taxpayer’s business sector, tax risk, and annual revenue.

To use either type of e-invoice in Vietnam, companies must register and receive approval from the Vietnamese tax authorities via the website of the General Taxation Department.

Delayed go-live date for Phase two in the e-invoicing mandate

In Saudi Arabia, the Phase two enforcement date in the e-invoicing mandate has been delayed to 1st January 2023 and it will be implemented in waves by targeted taxpayer groups. Select taxpayer groups will be informed 6 months prior to the go-live date.

Due to the technical nature of the requirements in Phase two, taxpayers are encouraged to consult a solution provider or their internal technical teams to ensure their e-invoicing systems comply with ZACTA (General Authority for Zakat and Tax) requirements.

B2G e-invoice mandate

The Australian government has announced to mandate e-invoicing for all levels of government by 1st July 2022 as part of the Digital Business Plan. Australia operates its e-invoicing system based on the PEPPOL framework. To send or receive an e-invoice, a business must connect to the PEPPOL Network through an Access Point. Australia’s Tax Office manages a registry of Access Point servers that have been officially accredited by the tax office.

Public platform & Rulebooks

Serbia is moving towards an e-invoicing mandate. This will be a phased approach, with the following envisaged dates:

  • 1 January 2022: Public sector entity to receive and keep an electronic invoice and issue invoices to other public sector entity (G2G) & Private sector entity to issue an electronic invoice to a public sector entity (B2G);
  • 1 July 2022: Public sector entity to issue an electronic invoice to a private sector entity (B2G) & Private sector entity to receive and keep an electronic invoice issued by a public and private sector entity;
  • 1 January 2023: To issue and keep electronic invoices in transactions between private sector entities (B2B).

Mandatory e-invoicing for ‘traceable’ goods from 1st July 2021

From 1st July 2021, Russia will introduce mandatory e-invoicing for taxpayers dealing with traceable goods. Certain goods such as refrigeration and freezing equipment, will be deemed to be traceable goods. From 1st July 2021, invoices for these goods must be electronic.

Under the traceability system, each consignment of goods would be assigned a registration number during import. Businesses within the scope of the traceability system would need to include the registration number in their invoices.

Law on electronic invoicing takes effect

The Law on electronic invoicing entered into force on 7 May 2021. There will be a phased introduction of e-invoicing with B2G invoicing due to take effect from 1 January 2022. Full implementation, including B2B invoicing, is expected from 1 January 2023. The new Law also introduces a requirement to electronically record VAT calculations within the electronic invoicing system. In addition, a new webpage was launched (https://www.efaktura.gov.rs/) by the Ministry of Finance. The webpage is specifically designed to cover updates concerning the e-invoicing project, implementation, and related topics. The testing environment of the e-invoicing system should in principle be made available to the users in July.

Grace period of 4 months granted to taxpayers who didn’t implement e-invoicing system yet

The Egyptian Tax Authority kicked off the fourth phase of the electronic tax invoicing system’s implementation. Companies registered at the Medium Taxpayers Center in Cairo and the Large Taxpayers Center of the Free Profession are required to issue electronic invoices after the grace period of 4 months, due date Sep 15th 2021. These businesses will have to adhere to the terms and conditions set out by the Egyptian Tax Authority, which includes the issuance of the electronic signature certificate, the usage of a certain coding system, etc.
The e-invoicing system is fully applied as from mid of May 2021 for all the taxpayers who are relevant to the Large Taxpayer Center Department.
This is in line with the Egyptian goal to have e-invoicing completely implemented as of 1 January 2022, which is part of the government’s digital plans.

Joining Italian e-invoicing

The Italian Ministry of Finance, with the Act no. 103 published on May 26, 2021 has laid the foundations for the introduction of the e-invoicing regime between Italy and San Marino. Italy and San Marino have agreed a transitional period (from 1 October 2021 until June 30, 2022) during which San Marino and Italian taxpayers could opt for the e-invoicing system instead of traditional “paper” invoicing. In particular, the taxpayers of the two countries will be able to issue e-invoices on a single cross-border system. The system will become fully operational starting from July 1, 2022.

Revenue Authority announces e-invoicing systems for various categories of taxpayers

On 24 December 2020, the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) announced that effective 1 January 2021, all taxpayers must secure invoices/receipts generated by the Electronic Invoicing System (EIS) as documentary evidence to support tax deductions associated with expenses for the years of income from 2021 onwards. The RRA has since clarified some further questions this raised.

The RRA published an announcement on 14 May 2021 regarding the available Electronic Invoicing Systems (EBM) for the different categories of taxpayers. Five Systems are being defined.

    • EBM Software
    • EBM Mobile System
    • Online EBM solution
    • Online Sales Data Controller
    • Virtual Sales Data Controller