E-invoice in Ireland
Decentralised model with e‑Invoicing Framework – Public authorities must accept
Ireland transposed Directive 2014/55/EU via the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations and established an e‑Invoicing Framework through the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). The framework allows public bodies to procure e‑invoicing services and is part of Ireland’s “eInvoicing Ireland” initiative.
Key Milestones
2019
Central Government
Central government authorities must be able to receive EN 16931 compliant e-invoices
2020
Sub-Central Government
Sub-central government authorities must also be able to receive and process e-invoices.
Ongoing
Peppol Expansion
Public bodies expand Peppol connectivity and adopt shared services to process EN 16931-compliant invoices via the four-corner model.
Ireland transposed Directive 2014/55/EU via the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations and established an e‑Invoicing Framework through the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). The framework allows public bodies to procure e‑invoicing services and is part of Ireland’s “eInvoicing Ireland” initiative.
B2G
Irish contracting authorities must be able to receive and process electronic invoices compliant with EN 16931.
B2B
There is no mandate for business‑to‑business invoicing; suppliers are not required to issue e‑invoices.
B2C
No requirements apply.
Decentralised Model
Public bodies receive invoices via Peppol or other service providers through the e‑Invoicing Framework. No central clearance platform exists.
EN 16931 Standard
Invoices must conform to EN 16931. The Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 syntax is commonly used for all public procurement.
Peppol Access Point
Suppliers submit invoices in UBL 2.1 or the national ebInterface format.
Certified Peppol Access Point for Irish suppliers
Send compliant invoices to public authorities
Format Standards
Integration with OGP-approved frameworks
Efficient invoicing for private Irish companies
- eInvoicing Ireland (OGP) – portal for public sector guidance and frameworks.
- Service Providers and eInvoicing (gov.ie) – official summary of the e‑invoicing framework.
- European Commission – eInvoicing in Ireland – overview of EN 16931 compliance.
FAQs
Do suppliers have to issue e‑invoices to Irish authorities?
Not currently; authorities must accept e‑invoices but suppliers can submit paper or PDF invoices unless specified in contracts.
What format is used?
EN 16931, typically via Peppol BIS 3.0.
Is there a central clearance platform?
No; invoices are exchanged through networks and service providers.
Summary
Ireland has implemented Directive 2014/55/EU, requiring all contracting authorities to accept EN 16931‑compliant electronic invoices. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has established a multi‑supplier e‑Invoicing Framework to facilitate adoption across the public sector. Central government bodies have been required to receive e‑invoices since April 2019, with sub‑central government following in April 2020.
There is currently no requirement on suppliers to submit e‑invoices, so B2B and B2C invoicing remain voluntary. However, the Peppol network is widely used for public procurement, and adoption continues to grow. The decentralised model means invoices are exchanged through service providers rather than a central government platform.
Our Peppol Access Point service connects Irish suppliers and authorities to the network, simplifying compliance with EN 16931 and enabling cross‑border e‑invoicing with partners throughout Europe. Whether you’re a supplier to Irish public bodies or a business seeking to digitise your invoicing processes, we provide the tools and expertise to make the transition seamless.
Need Help with E-Invoicing Compliance?
As a certified Peppol Access Point, we provide complete e-invoicing solutions for businesses across Europe. Our platform handles format conversion, real-time validation, and seamless integration with national systems.
