If you have an active Belgian VAT number, since 1 January 2026 you must be able to receive structured e-invoices via Peppol, even if you only invoice private customers or use the VAT exemption scheme. You cannot register yourself: it happens through software connected to a certified Peppol service provider. There is no free government platform any more, because Hermes has been out of service since the end of 2025. Receiving can still cost nothing if it is included in something you already have, such as your accounting package or your bank account.
What does "being able to receive Peppol invoices" mean?
Your business is registered on the Peppol network with its enterprise number. Your suppliers' software can then deliver their invoices straight to you as a structured e-invoice (Peppol BIS format). In Belgium your Peppol ID is at least your enterprise number with the code 0208, so 0208: followed by your ten digits.
- You do not register yourself. Only a certified Peppol service provider (an "access point") can register you. In practice this happens through invoicing or accounting software connected to such a provider.
- Registration counts as agreement. According to the FPS Finance, being registered means you agree to receive structured e-invoices, at least in Peppol BIS. Suppliers who work "Peppol first" then automatically send you their invoices via Peppol.
- You must be able to read and keep the invoice. Your software shows the e-invoice in a readable form, for example as a PDF view, and you keep the structured invoice.
To check whether you can be reached, use the Peppol Directory: search for 0208: followed by your enterprise number. It only shows who can receive, not who can send.
Who must be able to receive Peppol invoices?
| Your situation | Must you be able to receive? |
|---|---|
| VAT-registered with an active VAT number | Yes |
| VAT exemption scheme (art. 56bis, turnover up to €25,000) | Yes |
| Only private customers, but Belgian suppliers | Yes |
| Special scheme for farmers | Yes, at least receiving |
| Flat-rate scheme or bankrupt | Yes: you are only exempt from sending |
| Only transactions exempt under art. 44 | No |
| Not established in Belgium, no fixed establishment | No |
| Not VAT-registered | No |
Main or secondary occupation makes no difference: the criterion is your VAT status. More in our guide to Peppol in secondary occupation and the VAT exemption. In doubt? Check in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises whether "Subject to VAT" appears under your capacities.
Is there a free government solution?
No. The FPS Finance deliberately chose a decentralised, market-driven approach and does not offer a central free application. One reason it gives: a central government platform would become a "single point of failure" for a business-critical document like the invoice.
Hermes, the free FPS BOSA platform that older articles still recommend, is no longer an option. Its decommissioning by 31 December 2025 was confirmed in September 2025, and since mid-December 2025 it can no longer be used to exchange documents. The old Hermes web address now leads to a site that has nothing to do with the government: do not enter anything there.
Mercurius is the platform for invoices to public authorities (B2G). It is not an inbox for invoices between businesses.
Your options for receiving Peppol invoices
| Option | What does it cost? | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing, accounting or ERP software you already use | Often included in your subscription | Ask whether it also receives via Peppol, not just sends |
| An accounting package or bank account that includes Peppol | According to the FPS Finance, the legal obligation can then cost €0 | Agree how you and your accountant get to see the invoices |
| A separate Peppol tool | Affordable, sometimes free | Check limits, storage and export |
| A Peppol service provider (access point) directly | Depends on the contract | Mostly useful if you want to connect your own software or ERP |
The FPS Finance publishes a list of more than 250 software solutions for sending, receiving and processing e-invoices, but recommends none of them. Being listed is not a certification. Check for each solution that it covers both sending and receiving.
What to check with a free option
- Sending and receiving. If you invoice Belgian VAT-registered businesses (see the table above), you need both.
- Registration on your enterprise number. Afterwards, check in the Peppol Directory that you can be found.
- Readable view. You must be able to read every invoice you receive, for example as a PDF view.
- Storage. You keep invoices for seven years, counted from 1 January of the year after they were issued (sometimes longer). The FPS Finance strongly recommends keeping the original XML file. Cloud storage is allowed; make a backup.
- Export. Can you take your invoices (XML and PDF) with you if you switch tools or a free plan ends?
- Rejecting. Can you reject an invoice that is not meant for you with a Peppol response (status "RE")?
- Attachments. Attachments come through the same channel (pdf, png, jpg, csv, xlsx, ods); your tool must show them.
How handling a received invoice works in practice is explained in our guide to sending and receiving, in Dutch or French.
What do you risk if you cannot receive?
Since the Royal Decree of 8 July 2025, a fixed fine applies if you do not have the technical means to issue and receive structured e-invoices: €1,500 the first time, €3,000 the second time and €5,000 after that. A following offence only counts if it is established at least three months after the previous one.
If you cannot receive via Peppol, your supplier may send the invoice another way, but then you are the one who risks a sanction. To deduct VAT you in principle need a structured e-invoice; the FPS Finance applies "substance over form", but that does not remove the risk of a fine. The general grace period of the first three months of 2026 is over.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register on Peppol myself for free?
No. Only a certified Peppol service provider (access point) can register you, usually through your invoicing or accounting software. Whether that is free depends on the software.
Does Hermes still work?
No. Hermes has been out of service for document exchange since mid-December 2025. Its old web address leads to a site with no link to the government.
I only invoice private customers. Must I still be able to receive?
Yes, if you have an active VAT number and buy from Belgian VAT-registered suppliers. Your own invoices to private customers are outside the obligation.
Can my supplier still send me a PDF?
A PDF is allowed as an extra copy, but the structured e-invoice is the legal invoice. If you cannot receive via Peppol, your supplier may choose another way, but then you are the one who risks a sanction.
Do I have to give my Peppol ID to my suppliers?
No need: in Belgium they find you through your enterprise number. You can still let them know you receive via Peppol.
How long do I keep e-invoices I receive?
Seven years, counted from 1 January of the year after they were issued, sometimes longer. The FPS Finance recommends keeping the original XML file.
Is paid e-invoicing software tax-deductible?
For the taxable periods 2024 to 2027, an increased deduction of 120% applies, under conditions, to subscriptions for e-invoicing software. Ask your accountant whether you qualify.
Official sources
Every fact in this guide comes from the sources below, checked on 01/11/2026. Some official pages only exist in Dutch, French or German; we link the French version.
- FPS Finance – Who is the e-invoicing obligation for? (in French)
- FPS Finance – General questions about Peppol
- FPS Finance – What do I need for e-invoicing? (10/10/2024) (in French)
- FPS Finance – General questions about the B2B obligation
- FPS Finance – The list of solutions is long: where do I start? (23/05/2025)
- FPS Finance – Software solutions for sending, receiving and processing e-invoices
- FPS Finance – Specific questions about e-invoicing (incl. penalties)
- Royal Decree of 8 July 2025 (Belgian Official Gazette, 14/07/2025)
- FPS Finance – How do I keep invoices received via e-invoicing? (08/04/2026)
- FPS Finance – End of the general tolerance period (07/04/2026) (in French)
- FPS BOSA – Electronic invoicing (Peppol, Mercurius, Hermes) (in French)
- Belgian Peppol Service Providers Forum (chaired by FPS BOSA) – minutes of the plenary of 30/09/2025: Hermes decommissioned by 31/12/2025
- FPS Finance – Tax incentives for adopting e-invoicing (in French)
- Peppol Directory (look up who can receive Peppol invoices)
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. If you are unsure about your situation, ask your accountant or the FPS Finance.
More guides
- Peppol mandatory in BelgiumWho is in scope, the fines, and 5 steps
- Peppol in secondary occupation or VAT-exempt?Secondary occupation, art. 56bis and art. 44 explained
More guides in Dutch and French
Two more Peppol guides (sending and receiving step by step, and what to do when a customer asks for a Peppol invoice) are available in Dutch and French.
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