In 2024, electronic invoicing was to be imposed on companies in France. Last month, an Ipsos survey for Sopra Steria Next and Kolecto, however, highlighted the persistent lack of maturity of small companies.
Of the leaders surveyed, 32% said they would not be ready in time. This barometer seems to correspond to a certain reality of the level of preparation of French organisations. On July 28, the Ministry of Finance decreed a postponement of the measure, which had been planned for several years.
A gain of 4.5 billion euros per year for companies
The application is admittedly deferred, but not the ambition, nor is the justification for the generalization of electronic invoicing wanted by the government questioned. For Bercy, the benefits are indisputable.
“The generalization of electronic invoicing will ultimately represent a gain of 4.5 billion euros per year for small and medium-sized businesses. It is also a lever for simplifying and modernizing relations between the tax administration and businesses. “
To allow its entry into force, a collaboration qualified as close between the administration and all the stakeholders has been established since 2021, claims the Ministry of Finance of Bruno Le Maire.
A new date to guarantee the best possible conditions
“This collaboration continued through the regular consultation of professional federations, companies and software publishers throughout the first half of 2023”, he continues in a press release.
It is therefore within the framework of these exchanges that it was decided to postpone beyond July 1, 2024. The announced purpose: “to give the time necessary for the success of this structuring reform for the economy.”
When will it come into force? Bercy specifies that the new deadline will be defined as part of the work to adopt the finance law for 2024. The date aims to “guarantee the 4 million companies concerned a transition to electronic invoicing under the best possible conditions.”