Chorus Pro and PDPs - the French e-invoicing platforms explained
What Chorus Pro actually is (the B2G portal), why B2B invoices go through a PDP instead, what the 2026 Finance Act changed, and the reform timeline.
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What is Chorus Pro?
Chorus Pro is France's national e-invoicing platform, operated by AIFE (Agence pour l'Informatique Financière de l'État). Launched in 2017 for B2G (Business-to-Government) invoicing, it is what every supplier to the French State, local authorities and public institutions must use. It is not becoming the hub of the B2B reform: that role belongs to the approved platforms.
Chorus Pro accepts three structured invoice formats: Factur-X (PDF + CII XML), UBL 2.1, and UN/CEFACT CII. All must comply with the EN 16931 European standard. The platform handles invoice submission, status tracking, and archiving.
For B2B, Chorus Pro is NOT the channel. From 1 September 2026, business-to-business invoices are exchanged through a PDP (plateforme de dématérialisation partenaire) — an approved private platform. PDPs exchange directly with one another and transmit the e-reporting data to the tax authority. The DGFiP now officially calls them "plateforme agréée" (PA) — same status, current wording — and publishes the up-to-date list of approved platforms on impots.gouv.fr.
Key features and capabilities
Chorus Pro provides:
Invoice submission
Submit invoices in Factur-X, UBL, or CII format. Manual entry via web portal also available for small businesses. API access for automated submission (via EDI or web services).
Status tracking
Track invoice lifecycle: submitted, received, accepted, rejected, paid. Real-time notifications via the portal or API. Full audit trail for compliance.
E-reporting (2026+)
Under the reform, e-reporting — transmitting transaction data to the DGFiP for VAT pre-filling — is handled by your PDP, not by Chorus Pro. Chorus Pro carries the B2G invoices you send to public bodies; your PDP carries your B2B flows and the associated reporting.
The 2026 e-invoicing reform
France's reform rolls out in phases:
September 2026 - Phase 1
RECEPTION becomes mandatory for every VAT-registered business, with no size threshold. On the same date, ISSUING (and e-reporting) becomes mandatory for large enterprises AND mid-sized companies (ETI). A widespread misreading puts ETI issuing in 2027 — it does not.
September 2027 - Phase 2
SMEs and micro-enterprises: mandatory emission (mid-size companies/ETI already emit from September 2026, alongside large enterprises). By this date, all French VAT-registered companies must be able to send and receive structured e-invoices.
Continuous
E-reporting obligations for international transactions and transactions with non-established parties. VAT data transmitted to DGFiP in near real-time.
PDPs: the platforms that actually carry your B2B invoices
A PDP (plateforme de dématérialisation partenaire) is a private platform approved by the tax authority:
PDPs handle B2B invoice exchange between companies. They exchange directly with each other — a PDP does not route your B2B invoice through Chorus Pro — and they transmit the e-reporting data to the DGFiP. To find the recipient, they query the public directory (annuaire), which is what the public portal (PPF) was reduced to.
From September 2026, using a PDP for B2B is not optional: it is the channel. The 2026 Finance Act dropped the public portal as an exchange platform, so there is no free state route for B2B invoices. Chorus Pro stays available — but only for invoicing the public sector (B2G).
ValidateFin lets you validate an invoice before you hand it to your PDP — or to Chorus Pro for a B2G invoice — so it complies with EN 16931 and the format specification before it is ever rejected.
Validate before you send
Upload your Factur-X PDF or UBL XML to ValidateFin and check EN 16931 compliance, tax calculations, and format integrity before submission. 100% browser-based - no file leaves your device.
Open Factur-X ValidatorFrequently Asked Questions
Is Chorus Pro free to use?
Yes. Chorus Pro is a free public service operated by AIFE. There are no subscription fees or per-invoice charges for using the platform directly. PDP providers may charge their own fees.
Can I submit invoices manually on Chorus Pro?
Yes. Small businesses can submit invoices through the web portal manually. You can fill in invoice fields directly or upload a PDF. For larger volumes, API integration is recommended.
Which format is best for Chorus Pro?
Factur-X (EN 16931 profile or higher) is the most widely used format for Chorus Pro. UBL 2.1 is preferred if you also exchange via Peppol. Both are fully supported.
Do I need a PDP?
For B2B, yes — from September 2026 it is the only channel. The public portal (PPF) was dropped as an exchange platform by the 2026 Finance Act, so there is no free state alternative for B2B invoices. For B2G (invoicing the public sector), you can still submit directly to Chorus Pro, which remains free.
What is e-reporting?
E-reporting is the obligation to transmit transaction data (not the full invoice) to the DGFiP for VAT pre-filling. It applies to international transactions and transactions with non-established parties.
Can I test on Chorus Pro before going live?
Yes. AIFE provides a qualification (test) environment for Chorus Pro. You can submit test invoices and validate your integration before going to production.
What happens if Chorus Pro rejects my invoice?
You receive a rejection notification with an error code explaining the reason (format error, missing fields, tax calculation mismatch). Fix the issue and resubmit.
Is Chorus Pro connected to Peppol?
Not directly. Chorus Pro is a national B2G platform. Many PDPs, however, are also Peppol access points, so a Peppol invoice can reach a French recipient through the PDP network. Peppol interoperability is a PDP feature, not a Chorus Pro one.
What is the SIRET and why is it important?
The SIRET (14-digit identifier) uniquely identifies a French business establishment. It is mandatory in B2B invoices for buyer and seller identification. Chorus Pro uses SIRET for routing.
Will the reform affect companies outside France?
Yes. Any company invoicing a French business will need to issue a structured e-invoice. A foreign supplier reaches its French customer through a PDP, using Factur-X, UBL 2.1 or CII. Chorus Pro is not the route for B2B, whether you are established in France or not.