Just Over 1 Month in and Belgium is Smashing Records
Early February 2026 and the status, progress and numbers for the Belgium Mandate look very encouraging.
A quick reminder: Belgium went live with its big bang, Peppol-based mandate on 1st January 2026. It has a three-month grace period for good-faith companies. In 2028, the 4-corner model will add e-reporting.
What we know so far:
- Belgium’s timeline has been impressive, with a lead time of only 24 months between launching mandate legislation to go-live
- Belgium has become the first country to surpass the 1 million registered recipients on the Peppol Network
- As of the end of January, the number of registered Belgian companies on Peppol is 1,050,824*
- The Belgian government made a key decision to use Peppol “out of the box.” This has perhaps led to a more straightforward implementation
- Registration is mandatory for recipients, but issuers are not required to be listed in the Peppol Directory, meaning the actual number of Belgian entities using the Peppol Network today is “significantly higher”**
- We have two more months till the grace period expires (31st March 2026). Anticipate seeing continued growth through to this deadline
- After this deadline, not-insignificant penalties apply to all:
- 1st breach: €1,500
- 2nd breach: €3,000
- 3rd and subsequent breaches: €5,000
For governments coming online with their own mandates, Belgium could be you blueprint.
*https://www.peppolcheck.be/growth
** Sergio Ramon Ruiz Mahillo
Report: Belgium’s E-Invoicing Mandate: What You Need to Know