Invoice vs credit note capability on Peppol
What Belgian SMEs must enable on Peppol to send and receive invoices and credit notes. Plain capability checklist without document-type ID lists.
Updated
Peppol BIS Billing is the usual profile for Belgian B2B invoices and credit notes. They are two capabilities, not one. Enabling invoices does not automatically cover credit notes on send or receive.
One idea: two capabilities, not one
On Peppol, an invoice and a credit note are related but separate. Your software (via the Access Point) must be able to send each type you issue, and must publish receive for each type you expect from suppliers. Enabling invoices alone does not automatically cover credit notes.
Belgian B2B tools usually call this Peppol billing / BIS Billing. You do not need to memorise technical codes. You need the right switches on for real traffic.
Background: What is Peppol?. Credit note flow: Credit notes on Peppol.
- BIS Billing capability
The published ability to send and/or receive structured invoices and, separately, structured credit notes on Peppol. Invoice-on does not imply credit-note-on.
What must be enabled
| Direction | Invoice | Credit note |
|---|---|---|
| Send | Product can issue and transmit structured invoices | Product can issue and transmit structured credit notes |
| Receive | Your listing advertises invoice receive | Your listing advertises credit note receive |
| Situation | Risk if incomplete |
|---|---|
| You send invoices, receive not published | Suppliers cannot reach you on Peppol |
| Invoice receive on, credit note receive off | Corrections fail even when invoices work |
| Credit notes issued in PDF only | Network partners never get the structured correction |
| Sandbox capabilities only | Test works; production partners fail |
Confirm both directions before go-live. Share a verified pack: Share your Peppol ID.
How to check a counterparty
Before you send, run participant lookup on their enterprise number (scheme 0208).
| Lookup result | Meaning | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Not found | Not published / wrong ID | Fix ID or wait for their provider to publish |
| Found, invoices only | Credit notes may fail | Ask them to enable credit note receive |
| Found, invoice + credit note | Ready for both document types | Send the matching type |
| Found in test only | Environment mix-up | Recheck in production tools |
If they are not findable at all, see Why a customer is not findable on Peppol and client not on Peppol.
Checklist (Belgian SME)
- Confirm your product sends structured invoices on Peppol (not PDF-as-Peppol).
- Confirm it can send structured credit notes when you correct an invoice.
- Confirm your Access Point published receive for invoices (and credit notes if suppliers will correct on Peppol).
- Look yourself up; then look up each new buyer before first send.
- Treat "delivered on Peppol" and "valid invoice content" as two gates. Content rules: EN 16931 / UBL.
- On failure, separate missing capability from bad content: Fix a rejected Peppol invoice.
Related reading
- Peppol Access Point
- Participant lookup
- Credit notes on Peppol
- Why a customer is not findable on Peppol
Get invoice and credit note capability right on both sides. That is what "ready for Peppol billing" means in practice.
Worked example
Atelier Nord looks up Studio Berg: found, invoice receive on, credit note receive off. Invoice F2026-0118 delivers. The correction CN-2026-0012 fails routing. Studio Berg’s Access Point publishes credit note receive. The same credit note then delivers. The UBL content was never the problem.
FAQ
What is the Peppol BIS Billing profile?
The usual Peppol profile for structured invoices and credit notes. You enable send and receive for each document type you actually use.
Does invoice capability include credit notes?
No. They are separate. Invoice-on does not automatically cover credit-note send or receive.
Why does a credit note fail when invoices work?
The counterparty (or you) published invoice receive only. Ask them to enable credit note receive, then resend.
Must I publish credit note receive?
Yes if suppliers will correct on Peppol. Otherwise their structured credit notes cannot reach you.
Do I need to memorise document type IDs?
No. Confirm the product can send and receive invoices and credit notes in production. Codes stay with the vendor.
Does a sandbox listing count?
No. Production partners need production capabilities. Recheck in live lookup tools.