UK HMRC and Department for Business and Trade (DBT) seek views on standardizing electronic invoicing and increasing adoption across UK businesses, and public sector.
UK GVT launched 12-week e-invoicing consultation on plans to cut paperwork for firms and help improve productivity, with proposals expected to save time and money and speed up payments, as an integral part of the Prime Minister’s recent Plan for Change.
The consultation applies to business invoicing, and it will gather views on standardizing e-invoicing and to increase its adoption across UK businesses, and the public sector.
Topics UK GVT is interested in exploring are different models of e-invoicing, whether to take mandated or voluntary approach to e-invoicing, what scope of mandate might be most appropriate in UK and businesses, and if it should be real time digital reporting.
UK GVT will also be engaging with a broad range of businesses, as well as interested stakeholders to secure their views at various events, including face-to-face discussions.
Consultation Overview
E-invoicing is the digital exchange of invoice information directly between buyers’ and suppliers’ financial systems, even if systems are different, and outcome is an invoice that is automatically written in the buyer’s financial system without manual processing.
E-invoicing therefore automates exchange of invoices between buyers and suppliers.
Increased e-invoicing uptake may support economic growth and business productivity, as well as improving business cashflow and reduce various of the errors in tax returns.
As such it has the potential to both support businesses and the UK tax administration.
UK HMRC and DBT are publishing a joint consultation to understand how e-invoicing may align with businesses or their customers, to consider how best to move forward.
They are interested in responses from businesses of all sizes, if they use e-invoicing or not, as well as interest groups, representative bodies, industry bodies and individuals.
The consultation follows the announcement originally made in autumn budget 2024.
Effectiveness
The consultation on promoting electronic invoicing closes at 11:59pm on May 7, 2025.
