5 Myths about PEPPOL & e-invoicing

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🗣️ "PEPPOL? That’s total government control over all entrepreneurs, and on top of that, an expensive joke. Besides, it doesn’t even apply to me because I don’t have any B2B clients."

We hear you. But those claims aren’t entirely accurate. It’s time to bust these persistent myths about PEPPOL and e-invoicing. 👇

Myth 1: "PEPPOL & e-invoicing is only for B2B"

❌ False.

It’s true that from 2026, you will only be required to create and send e-invoices for business clients who are VAT-registered (B2B). But this myth isn’t entirely correct. Even if you only have private clients (B2C), you still need to register on the PEPPOL network to receive e-invoices from your suppliers.

Example:

Anne is a beautician and doesn’t issue invoices to her private clients (B2C). When Anne orders products from her suppliers, she receives official VAT invoices (B2B). Her Belgian suppliers will be required to send these invoices as e-invoices starting January 1, 2026. That’s why Anne needs to register on the PEPPOL network and have the right software to receive these e-invoices.

Even though Anne mainly has private clients, she may still need to send e-invoices in the future.

Another example:

A local photographer asks Anne to do makeup for a photoshoot. For this B2B assignment, she needs to issue an official invoice for her services.

Myth 2: "Small businesses exempt from VAT don’t have to send e-invoices"

❌ False.

E-invoicing will be mandatory for all VAT-liable self-employed professionals. But here’s the catch: even small businesses with a VAT exemption (turnover < €25,000) are technically still considered VAT-liable, and therefore must follow e-invoicing rules.

Yes, it’s complicated. We know. 😉

Here’s how it works:

• All self-employed professionals in Belgium are generally VAT-liable, except for certain liberal professions and paramedical professions like psychologists, dentists, and general practitioners (Article 44 of the VAT Code).
• A VAT exemption (turnover < €25,000 per year) does not mean you are not VAT-liable.

Example:

You are a dog groomer as a side business and earn less than €25,000 per year. To avoid unnecessary administration, you applied for the small business VAT exemption. Despite this exemption, you are still considered VAT-liable under the law (it’s only a temporary relief from VAT obligations). You are therefore required to follow the e-invoicing rules.

Myth 3: "PEPPOL costs the self-employed money"

❌ False.

Do you create your invoices in Word or Excel? Then it’s true that you’ll need invoicing software to create and send e-invoices.

But that doesn’t mean it automatically costs you money, because:

✅ With Accountable, you can register on the PEPPOL network for FREE, send unlimited e-invoices, and receive up to 5 e-invoices per month. Entirely free. No hidden fees. No fine print. Promised!

✅ If you choose a paid plan (which also lets you submit your VAT and tax returns), there’s an extra benefit: your Accountable subscription is 120% tax-deductible thanks to a temporary government measure. This increased deductibility is valid until January 1, 2028.

Myth 4: "Part-time self-employed don’t have to follow e-invoicing rules"

❌ False.

Part-time self-employed professionals must also follow e-invoicing rules starting January 1, 2026. This applies even if you:

• are exempt from VAT because your turnover is less than €25,000
• only have private clients (B2C), because you still need to be able to receive e-invoices from your suppliers (B2B)

The same goes for student self-employed professionals.

Exceptions:

• You are a non-VAT-liable part-time self-employed professional (for example, a physiotherapist). This falls under Article 44 of the VAT Code. In this case, you do not have to follow e-invoicing rules.
• You work exclusively for private clients (B2C) and never receive VAT invoices from suppliers. (This scenario is extremely rare.)

Myth 5: "PEPPOL means more work for the self-employed"

❌ False.

At first, e-invoicing might seem like extra work. After all, you need to (if you haven’t already) switch to invoicing software and register on the PEPPOL network.

With Accountable, we make it as easy as possible for you:

✅ Register for free and easily on the PEPPOL network via our app
✅ Create and send correct e-invoices in under 2 minutes
✅ Automatically receive and process e-invoices from your suppliers

See, no reason to panic about PEPPOL.

Create your free Accountable account today and register on the PEPPOL network.

This way, you can avoid last-minute stress and a potential fine of up to €5,000 for not complying with e-invoicing rules.

Author - Alexis Eggermont

Alexis is co-founder at Accountable. He is passionate about leveraging data, AI, technology, and entrepreneurship.

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