Factur-X & Peppol Validator for Belgian Companies
Belgium mandates Peppol-based e-invoicing for all B2B transactions from January 2026. Validate your Factur-X or UBL/Peppol invoices for EN 16931 compliance - free, no upload.
Open Factur-X ValidatorBelgian e-invoicing: Peppol B2B mandate from 2026
Belgium mandates structured electronic invoicing for B2B transactions between Belgian VAT-registered companies from January 2026. The Belgian implementation uses the Peppol network as its primary exchange infrastructure. All Belgian companies must be able to receive structured e-invoices (EN 16931-compliant) from the mandate date.
Accepted formats include UBL / Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 and Factur-X (EN 16931 profile). The mandate is implemented through Royal Decree (loi du 6 juillet 2023). Companies must connect to the Peppol network via an accredited access point. The Mercurius platform continues as the B2G hub for public sector invoicing.
Belgian e-invoicing compliance timeline
B2G: Peppol mandatory for federal public procurement. Mercurius platform as central B2G hub for structured invoices.
B2B: all Belgian VAT-registered companies must be able to RECEIVE structured e-invoices (UBL/Peppol or Factur-X EN 16931).
B2B: obligation to SEND structured e-invoices begins. All B2B invoices between Belgian VAT-registered entities must be electronic.
Progressive enforcement and penalties for non-compliance. Belgian tax authority (SPF Finances / FOD Financiën) monitors adoption rates.
What ValidateFin checks in your Factur-X invoice for Belgium
Before sending to a Belgian business partner via Peppol or Factur-X, verify your invoice passes these checks:
- PDF/A-3 structure: XML correctly embedded as an attachment named factur-x.xml or ZUGFeRD-invoice.xml
- Belgian VAT number format: BE + 10 digits (BTW/TVA number: BE0123456789)
- EN 16931 mandatory fields: seller/buyer VAT, invoice number, issue date, tax breakdown
- Profile conformance: MINIMUM, BASIC WL, BASIC, EN 16931 (COMFORT) or EXTENDED
- VAT consistency: Belgian rates (21%, 12%, 6%, 0%) and exempt categories correctly applied
Common Factur-X errors for Belgian compliance
Invalid Belgian VAT number format
Belgian VAT numbers (BTW/TVA) follow the format BE0 + 9 digits (e.g. BE0123456789). The 10-digit format after BE is required in EN 16931 invoices.
Not registered on Peppol network
For B2B invoicing via Peppol, both sender and receiver must be registered in the Peppol SMP directory. An invoice cannot be delivered if the receiver's Peppol ID is not found. Verify registration with your access point.
Wrong Factur-X profile for Belgian compliance
Belgian B2B requires at minimum the EN 16931 (COMFORT) profile to carry all mandatory business data. MINIMUM and BASIC WL profiles lack required fields for automated accounting processing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Belgium's B2B e-invoicing mandate really from January 2026?
Yes. The Belgian Royal Decree implementing the law of 6 July 2023 sets January 1, 2026 as the mandatory date for B2B e-invoicing between Belgian VAT-registered companies. Both the obligation to send and receive structured invoices applies from that date.
Does Belgium accept Factur-X as well as Peppol UBL?
Yes. Belgium accepts any EN 16931-compliant format. Factur-X (EN 16931 COMFORT or higher profile) is accepted alongside UBL/Peppol BIS 3.0. The format must implement the EN 16931 semantic model. Purely PDF invoices without embedded structured XML are no longer accepted.
Can I use ValidateFin to check my Belgian Factur-X invoices?
Yes. ValidateFin extracts and validates the XML from your Factur-X PDF, checks EN 16931 mandatory fields, Belgian VAT format, and profile conformance. No file is sent to any server - all processing is client-side in your browser.
E-invoicing guides by country
E-invoicing rules in Belgium
Status: B2B mandatory since 1 Jan 2026. See who must issue and receive e-invoices, deadlines and accepted formats.
Validate your Factur-X invoice for Belgian compliance
Check EN 16931 compliance and Belgian VAT format instantly. No file uploaded.