Slovakia is joining a growing wave of countries across Europe and beyond by introducing an e-invoicing mandate. If you do business in Slovakia, this change will affect you, but don't worry, we've broken down everything you need to know.
What's Actually Changing?
Here's the big shift: paper and PDF invoices are out. Starting soon, invoices exchanged between businesses in Slovakia (B2B and B2G scenarios) must be structured digital files in XML format that comply with the EN 16931 standard. If you're sending B2C invoices, those remain unchanged.
Think of EN 16931 as the rulebook for what invoices must contain and how they should be structured. It's not a specific technical format, but rather a semantic model that ensures consistency.
How Will Invoices Be Delivered?
Slovakia is implementing a system called Digital Postmen, essentially government-accredited service providers who act as your invoice delivery partners. Rather than emailing invoices or using file-sharing services to send directly to your customers, you'll contract a Digital Postman to transfer invoices on your behalf.
Here's where it gets interesting: these service providers are connected to an international network called Peppol. This means that by using Peppol, your Slovak business automatically gains access to millions of trading partners across the globe. Belgium, for example, already made Peppol mandatory, and many other countries are following suit.
The transfer happens in a format called Peppol BIS, which is an XML standard that's becoming the go-to format across many countries. Because everything is digital and structured, invoices flow automatically from your billing system straight into your customer's accounts payable system, no manual data entry required. This means fewer errors, faster processing, and more secure transactions.
One important note: While the standard approach uses Digital Postmen and Peppol BIS, there's flexibility. If both you and your trading partner agree, you can use alternative formats (like EDIFACT point-to-point) if they comply with EN 16931. In practice, most businesses will adopt the Digital Postman route.
Digital Postmen must be accredited by the government, and Slovakia is continuously updating its list of approved providers. These providers don't just deliver invoices; they also report invoice data to a central government platform for transparency and compliance.
When Does This Take Effect?
Good news: you can start using the new system voluntarily right now if you want to get ahead of the curve.
Important date: Mandatory adoption begins on January 1st, 2027.
This gives you time to prepare and transition smoothly.
Why Is This Happening?
The benefits are real. E-invoicing enables:
- Automatic invoice processing: Data flows seamlessly from accounts receivable to accounts payable without manual touchpoints, dramatically reducing errors
- Global connectivity: Through Peppol, Slovak businesses are instantly connected to a worldwide network of suppliers and buyers
- Enhanced security: Digital transmission is inherently more secure than email or file-sharing
- Futureproofing: This mandate prepares businesses for upcoming EU ViDA regulations
What Do You Need to Do?
Ready to get compliant? Here are the two essential steps:
- Choose a Digital Postman: Select an accredited provider and ensure they register you as a recipient on the Peppol network
- Integrate your systems: Connect your Digital Postman's platform with your accounts receivable and/or accounts payable systems
That's it. Once these are in place, you're ready to send and receive invoices under the new mandate.
How Can Basware Help?
We've got you covered. Basware is operating as a Digital Postman in Slovakia, which means we'll support your e-invoicing journey. With Basware, you can:
- Send and receive invoices across the entire Peppol network
- Handle cross-border invoices (including legacy PDFs) seamlessly
- Archive invoices with full compliance and security
- Leverage our world-class accounts payable solution
All of this is integrated into our Invoice Lifecycle Management suite, a comprehensive solution designed to make e-invoicing simple and effective for your business.
