E-invoicing in Belgium 2026 | Peppol-compliant with Salesforce ↔ Exact Online

E-invoicing in Belgium as of January 1, 2026

What’s changing and how to easily become Peppol-compliant now

Starting January 1, 2026, an important change will take effect for all Belgian businesses: it will become mandatory to send all B2B invoices digitally and in a structured format via the Peppol network. Sending an invoice as a PDF via email will no longer suffice. That may sound technical, but in this article, we clearly explain what this means, what the impact is, and how you can become compliant immediately with our solution in Salesforce and Exact Online—without any complicated workarounds.

What exactly is changing?

Until now, you could often simply email your customers a PDF invoice. Starting January 1, 2026, this will no longer be permitted for business customers. The Belgian government requires that all B2B invoices:

• Be created in a fixed digital format (UBL/XML in accordance with the European standard EN 16931).
• Must be sent and received via Peppol, a secure network developed specifically for e-invoicing.
• PDFs will no longer be valid as official invoices.

For consumers (B2C), this requirement does not yet apply. However, it is expected that more and more companies will want to switch to digital invoicing because it is faster, more secure, and error-free.

Why is Belgium doing this?

The Belgian government aims to:

• Reduce administrative burdens: no more manual processing, fewer errors.
• Encourage faster payments: an invoice received via Peppol can often be processed immediately by the customer’s accounting department.
• Reduce fraud and VAT gaps: a uniform standard makes auditing easier.

What does this mean for your business?

For many businesses, this represents a major shift:

• Your accounting software must support Peppol. Are you still using WinBooks? If so, you’ll likely need to switch to Exact Online, which now supports Peppol.
• Your processes will need to change. From sales to accounting, everyone in the chain must be able to work with the new invoicing method.
• Your data must be accurate. Think of VAT numbers, bank details, and references: everything must be correct and complete, otherwise an invoice will be rejected.

In short: this isn’t just about technology, but also about setting up your entire order-to-cash process.

How do we solve this?

We’ve developed a connector that seamlessly integrates Salesforce and Exact Online. This makes you Peppol-ready right away. Specifically, this means:

• Sending invoices from Salesforce: You create an order or subscription in Salesforce, which automatically generates an invoice in Exact Online. This invoice is then sent to your customer via Peppol—fully compliant with Belgian law.
• Receiving and processing invoices: Incoming Peppol invoices arrive directly in Exact Online and are automatically linked to the correct customer or order. This eliminates the need for manual data entry.
• Always stay updated on the status: in Salesforce, you can immediately see whether an invoice has been delivered, accepted, or paid. You’ll never have to follow up to check if an invoice has arrived.
• Compliance without the hassle: we ensure your processes and data comply with the EN 16931 standard and that your administration is ready for future expansions, such as real-time reporting.

Why take action now?

• The deadline is fast approaching: January 1, 2026 may seem far off, but implementation takes time.
• Migrating from WinBooks to Exact: since WinBooks has been acquired by Exact, many Belgian companies will soon be switching over. That makes now the perfect time to become Peppol-compliant right away.
• Get a head start: those who are already using e-invoicing benefit from faster payments and fewer errors.

How we help Belgian businesses

Our approach is practical and step-by-step:

• Free readiness check: In a short session, we assess your current situation.
• Quick implementation: We set up the connector and Peppol integration in Exact Online for you.
• Guidance and training: We ensure your team knows how it works.
• Ongoing support: Changes in legislation or standards? We keep you up to date.

Conclusion

Mandatory e-invoicing in Belgium is a major change, but also an opportunity. Companies that take the step now will not only be Peppol-compliant, but will also benefit from a more efficient and faster invoicing process. With our Salesforce ↔ Exact Online integration, you’ll be ready for 2026—and beyond.

Schedule a free readiness check and discover how your organization can become Peppol-compliant within a few weeks.