Spain has announced a delay in the rollout of its new certified billing system, Verifactu, aimed at strengthening tax compliance and combating fraud. Originally planned for mid-2025, the implementation will now take place in 2026, giving businesses additional time to prepare.
New Timeline:
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January 1, 2026: For Corporate Income Tax taxpayers.
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July 1, 2026: For other taxpayers, including the self-employed and smaller businesses.
Certain taxpayers, such as those using the Immediate Supply of Information (SII) system for self-billing or mandatory third-party billing, are exempt. However, SII taxpayers who voluntarily bill for others must still comply.
What is Verifactu?
Established by Royal Decree 1007/2023, Verifactu introduces strict rules for invoicing systems:
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Invoice Recordkeeping: All invoices must generate immutable records.
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QR Codes: Invoices must display a QR code for verification.
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Compliance Declaration: Invoicing software must meet technical standards outlined by law.
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Optional Auto-Submission: Businesses can automatically transmit invoice data to the tax authority.
Verifactu targets fraud prevention and promotes digitalization, particularly among SMEs. Early adoption could offer operational efficiencies and support easier VAT reporting. Businesses are urged to review and upgrade their invoicing systems ahead of the deadlines to ensure full compliance.
