Electronic invoicing — a scarecrow or a challenge?

As early as January 1, 2027, Slovakia is expecting a significant step that will affect a wide range of business entities in an area that affects virtually every entrepreneur. The Financial Administration will then officially launch the eFaktúra project, which will fundamentally change the way of issuing, delivering and receiving invoices in Slovakia. By introducing mandatory electronic invoicing, the Financial Administration of the Slovak Republic is trying not only to simplify administrative processes, but also to respond to innovations in the field of sending, controlling and digitizing data. This step will lead to major systemic changes in the billing rules. Therefore, it is good to prepare for them in advance, as this is not just an isolated step of the Slovak Republic, but an increasingly significant necessity for future business within the common European market.

V our accounting firm we process accounting, taxes a Wages for more than 200 companies. Therefore, we know that the e-invoice will not only be a technical novelty. It affects document circulation, software setup, communication with suppliers, and the way invoices get into accounting. At the same time, it will also force clients who have been procrastinating so far Digitalization of accounting to speed up their decision-making process.

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What is an electronic invoice and why PDF is not enough

An e-invoice is a structured XML file that contains all mandatory data. It is produced, sent and received in electronic form to allow automated processing and must also comply with the European standard EN 16931. That is why the accounting system can automatically load and process it. In contrast, a PDF is, from the system's point of view, only an image document that often requires manual rewriting or checking.

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Who will be affected by the change

The biggest change will be felt by VAT payers who invoice another entrepreneur or company in their home country. It is they who will be obliged to issue and receive e-invoices in the prescribed format from January 1, 2027. At the same time, however, it will be the case that any business entity that is a taxable person, even if it is not a VAT payer, must be able to accept electronic invoices. On the other hand, the scheme does not apply to sales to the final consumer, i.e. to a natural person — a non-trader.

For many small businesses and self-employed people, it will be important to remember that although they will not be required to issue an e-invoice, they can receive it from their suppliers and must be prepared to accept and process it.

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How the delivery will work

E-invoices will be sent through certified delivery service providers, the so-called digital postmen. The choice of a digital postman has left the state to the entrepreneurs themselves, with the range of solutions likely to be varied. The choice will depend on the specific needs of each company - whether they prefer a direct link to the accounting system or a simpler web or mobile application. Only practice shows how individual delivery service providers certify themselves.

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What we recommend businesses do now

From the point of view of accounting, it is best to prepare in advance. In particular, we recommend focusing on the following steps:

• Communicate with your accounting office. Check how ready it is to receive and send e-invoices.

• Find out which solution is right for your business. Each company has different needs, specific requirements such as the approval process, internal processes or the quantity and type of invoices received and issued.

• Review your internal procedures. E-invoice will affect the circulation of documents, approval and submission of documents to accounting.

• Take advantage of the voluntary period in 2026. This is a good time to test the processes, detect and eliminate possible problems and, last but not least, to coordinate the procedure with the accountant.

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Why an accountant is also important for e-invoicing

E-invoice is not just an IT project. It is a change that directly affects accounting, VAT agenda, document control and reporting. If the company sets up the processes incorrectly, the problems with e-invoicing will not only be manifested by time stress, but also by complications in internal processes and additional communication with suppliers and customers.

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That is why it makes sense to deal with the preparation together with the accounting company. The latter is best able to assess not only the technical side, but also the real impact on the daily practice of a particular company with regard to its specifics.

Not sure if your company is ready for e-invoicing? Contact us. We will review your processes, software and how you submit documents and help you set up a solution that will work in practice.