Published: 8 April 2026
The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) has approved EN 16931-1:2026, the updated semantic standard for electronic invoicing in the EU. Aligned with the EU’s ViDA initiative, the revision strengthens structured invoicing and prepares the ground for harmonised, automated VAT reporting across Member States.
CEN has formally adopted EN 16931-1:2026, marking a significant upgrade to the EU’s core e-Invoicing framework. Replacing the 2017 version, the revised standard expands beyond its original B2G focus to better support increasingly complex B2B transactions and upcoming digital reporting obligations. A key objective of the update is alignment with the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative, which envisions mandatory structured e-Invoicing and near real-time reporting for intra-EU transactions by 2030.
The new version introduces clearer and more robust semantic data structures, enabling invoices to function as machine-readable datasets for automated VAT controls. With the Definitive Text released in March 2026, national standardisation bodies are now expected to publish local versions and support implementation. Additional CEN guidance is also anticipated to ensure consistent adoption across jurisdictions.
