UBL / Peppol Invoice Validator for French Companies
France's e-invoicing reform accepts UBL 2.1 invoices exchanged through an approved platform (PDP) from 1 September 2026. Validate your UBL files against EN 16931 and Peppol BIS 3.0 before you send them.
Open UBL ValidatorUBL invoicing in France: PDP platforms and Chorus Pro
France's e-invoicing reform (Ordonnance n°2021-1190) mandates structured electronic invoicing for all VAT-registered companies from 2026. While Factur-X is the most widely discussed format, UBL 2.1 is equally accepted - provided it conforms to the EN 16931 semantic data model.
UBL invoices are exchanged through a PDP (plateforme de dématérialisation partenaire) — an approved private platform, many of which are Peppol access points. The 2026 Finance Act dropped the public portal (PPF) as an exchange platform; it now only acts as a directory. Chorus Pro remains the B2G portal for invoicing the public sector.
Compliance timeline
Reception becomes mandatory for EVERY VAT-registered business in France, whatever its size: you must be able to receive a structured e-invoice.
Issuing and e-reporting become mandatory for large enterprises AND mid-sized companies (ETI). ETI are in scope from this date — not 2027.
Issuing and e-reporting become mandatory for SMEs, very small businesses and micro-enterprises. They must already be able to RECEIVE since Sep 2026.
B2B invoices are exchanged through an approved platform (PDP). The 2026 Finance Act dropped the public portal (PPF) as an exchange platform; Chorus Pro remains the B2G portal.
What ValidateFin checks in your UBL invoice
Before you send an invoice through your PDP, check that your UBL invoice passes these:
- UBL 2.1 schema validation: the XML structure conforms to the UBL 2.1 Invoice or CreditNote schema
- EN 16931 mandatory fields: seller VAT (FR format), buyer SIRET or VAT, invoice number, issue date, tax breakdown
- Peppol BIS 3.0 business rules: PEPPOL-EN16931-R* rules for amounts, VAT, and payment terms
- French VAT number format: FR + 2 alphanumeric chars + SIREN (11 digits total)
- Tax category codes: S (standard 20%), AA (reduced 10/5.5%), E (exempt) - French VAT rates validated
Common UBL errors that get an invoice rejected
Invalid French VAT number format
French VAT (TVA intracommunautaire) follows the format FR + 2 alphanumeric characters + 9-digit SIREN. The 2-char key is computed from the SIREN and is frequently wrong in automated systems.
Missing SIRET or buyer identification
For B2B invoices in France, the buyer must be identified by their SIRET (14 digits) or VAT number in cac:AccountingCustomerParty. Without it, the PDP cannot route the invoice to the right recipient.
Peppol BIS 3.0 rule PEPPOL-EN16931-R004 failure
The invoice currency (cbc:DocumentCurrencyCode) must match the currency in all monetary amounts. EUR is mandatory for French domestic invoices.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use UBL instead of Factur-X for French e-invoicing?
Yes. The French reform accepts three structured formats: Factur-X (PDF/A-3 + XML), UBL 2.1, and UN/CEFACT CII. All must implement the EN 16931 semantic data model. UBL is particularly common when exchanging invoices through a PDP (an approved private platform) or a Peppol access point.
What is a PDP, and how is it different from Chorus Pro?
A PDP (plateforme de dématérialisation partenaire) is a private platform approved by the tax authority to exchange B2B e-invoices and transmit e-reporting data. From September 2026 this is the channel for B2B invoicing. Chorus Pro is a different thing: the state platform for invoicing the PUBLIC sector (B2G). The public portal (PPF) was dropped as an exchange platform by the 2026 Finance Act and now serves only as the recipient directory. The older term "ODP" is obsolete — the approved platforms are PDPs.
Does ValidateFin validate French-specific UBL rules?
ValidateFin validates your UBL 2.1 invoice against the Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 specification and EN 16931 rules, which are the required standards for French e-invoicing. It also checks French VAT number format and tax category codes. No file is ever sent to a server - 100% browser-based.
E-invoicing guides by country
E-invoicing rules in France
Status: Mandatory from 1 Sep 2026. See who must issue and receive e-invoices, deadlines and accepted formats.
Validate your UBL invoice before you send it through your PDP
Check UBL 2.1 structure, Peppol BIS 3.0 rules, and EN 16931 compliance instantly. No file uploaded.