Self-billing in 2026: what about PEPPOL?

Got a tax question? We’ll answer for free by email.

Bitte gib eine gültige E-Mail-Adresse ein

Ask your question

In Belgium, many freelancers work with big companies that take care of issuing invoices themselves. Whether you’re delivering meals for Deliveroo, consulting at Deloitte, sending copyright-protected invoices via Creative Shelter, driving for Uber, or freelancing on Upwork…

These large clients all use self-billing. It’s their secret weapon for handling hundreds, or even thousands, of freelancers at the same time, without turning their admin into a nightmare.

Self-billing and PEPPOL: what’s the deal?

Starting January 1, 2026, the rules are changing. From that date, every B2B invoice, including self-bills, must be sent and received via PEPPOL.

Good news: Accountable is currently gearing up to support self-billing via PEPPOL so you can continue working with your clients completely worry-free.

On this page, you’ll discover exactly how self-billing works, why companies use it, how it affects you, and what you can expect from Accountable.

What is self-billing?

Self-billing means that your client or employer creates the invoice on your behalf. You provide the service, but you don’t issue the invoice yourself. Your client generates a correct invoice and sends it to you. That invoice is then considered your official sales invoice, containing all the traditional invoice details (date, description, VAT, etc.).

You, in turn, must record the received self-bill in your accounting system. Just as you would with an invoice you issued yourself.

Benefits of self-billing

Self-billing might sound like you’re giving up control, but in practice, it provides freelancers with a lot of convenience and security, especially when working with large companies or platforms.

Think of it this way:

• Less administration and fewer errors
  You no longer need to create invoices, keep track of invoice numbers, or try to avoid mistakes. The invoice arrives ready-made. You only need to check that everything is correct.

• Faster processing & payment
  Since your client manages the entire process internally, your payment is often processed faster. You don’t have to wait for someone to “handle” your invoice. They generate it automatically and usually process it faster than if you sent a traditional invoice.

• Transparency on hours, mileage, or rates
  In many systems (Deliveroo, consulting firms, platforms), performance is automatically recorded. The self-bill reflects exactly what you delivered. This reduces disputes, provides clarity, speeds up processing, and ensures smooth collaboration.

• Always an invoice that meets all tax requirements
  Self-bills are usually automatically generated according to legal invoicing requirements, giving you certainty that your accounting is in order.

• You retain control
  Even though you don’t create the invoice, it’s still your invoice. You review, approve, and decide when changes are necessary. Self-billing only takes the administrative work off your hands.

Self-billing in practice: examples

Self-billing occurs in many more sectors than you might think, and the number of freelancers using it continues to grow. Here are some common sectors:

Platform economy

The platform economy consists of digital platforms that automatically connect supply and demand via apps or online systems. Performance is fully digitally recorded, making self-billing an efficient way to pay thousands of freelancers correctly and on time. The platform generates invoices for you based on your rides, deliveries, or assignments.

• Deliveroo & Uber (couriers and drivers)
• Upwork, Fiverr, Malt (freelancers, designers, developers, copywriters)

Consultancy & professional services

Consultancy and professional services involve freelance experts temporarily working with large companies. Since consulting firms work with large groups of freelance consultants simultaneously, they often use self-billing to process monthly performance consistently, correctly, and according to internal procedures.

• Creative Shelter for copyright-protected invoices for creative freelancers
• Deloitte and other consulting firms (freelance lawyers, auditors, financial, business, or IT consultants)

Creative sector & media

Production houses and media companies often hire a pool of freelancers. This makes it convenient to centrally process recurring hours, shoot days, or assignments without each freelancer invoicing separately.

• Large production houses and media companies (freelance photographers, videographers, editors)

Logistics & mobility

These are sectors where freelancers handle transport, deliveries, dispatching, or warehouse work. Because the number of tasks can vary greatly: from shifts to deliveries, self-billing is an efficient way to automatically consolidate all records into a single correct invoice.

• Courier services (couriers and drivers)
• Warehouses

Self-billing and PEPPOL: what changes in 2026?

Until the end of 2025, you could manually upload invoices in Accountable, link them to bank transactions, and process them in your accounting.

From 2026, e-invoicing becomes mandatory for all B2B transactions. Self-billing is no exception. Your client, who issues invoices on your behalf, will then need to send them electronically via the official PEPPOL network.

What does this mean for you?

For freelancers using self-billing, it mainly means one thing: you can no longer just drop self-bills as PDFs into your accounting. They must arrive as structured e-invoices that are automatically processed in accounting software that supports PEPPOL.

And that’s exactly what we at Accountable are building. Our product team is working on an integration that will allow self-bills to automatically arrive in your Accountable app via PEPPOL starting January 2026, fully compliant with the new rules.

You don’t need to change how you work. Your self-bills will continue to arrive as usual, only now digitally and perfectly in line with the new rules.

Self-billing via Accountable remains possible

Self-billing has long been established among large companies and freelancers, from couriers to consultants to creatives. With mandatory e-invoicing in 2026, it becomes even more important that self-bills are processed correctly, digitally, and automatically.

The only change for you is how self-bills arrive: no longer as PDFs, but directly via PEPPOL. Everything else remains the same: you provide your services, your client generates the invoice, and you process it in your accounting.

Most importantly: you don’t need to change software. Accountable ensures that you can continue processing self-billing just as you’re used to in 2026. But simpler, faster, and 100% legally compliant.

Author - Alexis Eggermont

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

Who is Alexis ?