Finland has long been at the forefront of e-invoicing in Europe. Finnish companies were already using electronic invoices well before the EU made it a priority, and public sector rules have only strengthened this position.

The public sector roll-out began in 2019, when central government bodies were required to receive structured e-invoices, and in 2020 the obligation was extended to all public entities. Since 2021, only invoices that comply with the European EN 16931 standard have been accepted for B2G transactions.

The private sector soon followed as since April 2020, any company with an annual turnover above €10,000 has had the right to demand e-invoices from its suppliers. This “right to receive” has been a powerful driver of adoption, making e-invoicing the norm in business-to-business transactions even without a universal mandate.

Supported by established operator networks, Finland relies on national formats such as Finvoice and TEAPPSXML, which are aligned with the European standard, while Peppol formats can also be used to ensure cross-border interoperability.

The journey continues with e-ordering. From April 2024, central government suppliers have been required to exchange orders and order responses digitally through Peppol. By 2026, this requirement will cover all public sector procurement contracts, marking another step towards a fully digital procure-to-pay process. Looking ahead, Finland will also be affected by the EU’s VAT in the Digital Age initiative.

From July 2030, e-invoicing and digital reporting will become mandatory for all intra-EU B2B transactions. This will complement the national framework already in place and ensure consistency with EU-wide requirements.