PEPPOL Intro

PEPPOL, a simple introduction for Accounts Payable professionals

A 5-minute, plain-English guide for AP teams who are hearing “PEPPOL” for the first time.

PEPPOL is a global network that lets companies and governments send electronic invoices and other business documents in a standard, secure way. Instead of emailing PDFs, PEPPOL sends structured data directly from one system to another. This reduces errors, speeds up processing, and makes automation easier.

A brief history

PEPPOL was launched in 2008 as a project funded by the European Commission. Its goal was to help businesses send invoices to government agencies across Europe. In 2012, governance moved to OpenPeppol, and the network expanded globally. Today, PEPPOL is used in many regions and is no longer limited to Europe.

Where PEPPOL is required vs. growing

Most mandates began with government invoicing (B2G), but business-to-business rules (B2B) are expanding.

Country	Status	Notes
Italy	Mandated	Required for most B2G and B2B invoices
Belgium	Mandated	B2B mandatory as of Jan 1, 2026 (3-month tolerance for good-faith efforts such as connecting to PEPPOL)
Singapore	Mandated	National e-invoicing mandate using PEPPOL
Norway	Mandated	Strong public sector mandate
Denmark	Mandated	Public sector required
Finland	Mandated	Public sector required
Sweden	Mandated	Public sector required
Australia	Mandated	Government suppliers increasingly required
New Zealand	Mandated	Government suppliers increasingly required
Germany	Phasing in	B2B receipt mandatory; issuance phased 2027 to 2028
Netherlands	Voluntary	Strongly recommended for public sector
United Kingdom	Voluntary	No broad mandate
Japan	Limited	Small-scale use
United States	Very limited	No federal mandate

Will PEPPOL be used in the United States?

PEPPOL could grow in the US because many companies work globally and want one invoicing standard. It also helps reduce fraud and manual work. However, there is no federal e-invoicing mandate, and sales tax rules vary by state. Adoption today is voluntary, with pilot programs and industry efforts such as the Business Payments Coalition exploring standardized B2B exchange models inspired by PEPPOL.

Why this matters

Most US AP teams do not use PEPPOL today. Still, it is becoming part of global AP conversations. PEPPOL also supports more than invoices, including orders and other purchase-to-pay documents. Understanding the basics now helps AP professionals stay prepared as invoicing standards continue to evolve.

Quick question: Have you ever received a PEPPOL invoice, or is this brand new to you?

Last updated: January 2026. PEPPOL requirements change frequently. Always check official country guidance.

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Robert Ruhno Executive Director APPG

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