This article provides an overview of e-invoicing requirements in Finland, including public sector regulations, private sector practices and aspects related to taxation.

Mandatory e-invoicing in the public sector
E-invoicing standards and networks 
Voluntary adoption in the private sector (B2B)
Voluntary adoption for consumer invoicing (B2C)
Tax and regulatory requirements 
Summary 

Mandatory e-invoicing in the public sector

From 1 April 2020, all public sector actors, such as government agencies, municipalities and wellbeing services counties, will be obliged to receive e-invoices. This regulation is based on the European standard (EN 16931), which standardises e-invoicing in EU countries.

The most common invoicing formats in Finland are Finvoice, TEAPPSXML, and Peppol BIS Billing 3.0. Suppliers must ensure that their invoicing system supports these formats in accordance with public sector requirements.

In addition, the central government started using the Peppol network and its advanced ordering messages on April, 2024. Read more on the State Treasure site.

E-invoicing standards and networks

There are three main e-invoicing formats in Finland:

• Finvoice, which is managed by Finanssiala ry, is widely used in the Finnish business network
• TEAPPSXML, managed by TietoEvry Oy, is also a common format in Finland, especially for the public administration and larger enterprises
• Peppol BIS Billing 3.0, managed by OpenPeppol, enables invoices to be sent internationally via the Peppol network

Businesses can send electronic invoices via operators, bank operators, or directly through the Peppol network. The Finnish Information Society Development Centre (TIEKE) maintains a public register with contact information and e-invoicing address of companies that have implemented e-invoicing.

Voluntary adoption in the private sector (B2B)

Although e-invoicing is not mandatory in the private sector, many businesses are taking advantage of it because of the efficiency gains it offers. Digital invoicing reduces manual work, speeds up payment processing and reduces errors. Recipient can demand EN valid invoices from the suppliers if the buyer turnover is over 10000€.

Finvoice, TEAPPSXML, and Peppol BIS are the most common formats for business-to-business invoicing, and their use is increasing, especially among larger companies. 

Voluntarily adoption for consumer invoicing (B2C)

Tax and regulatory requirements

Electronic invoices must comply with Finnish VAT legislation and must contain, among other things:

• The business IDs of the invoice sender and recipient
• VAT breakdown
• Payment terms and reference numbers

According to the Finnish Accounting Act, electronic invoices must be kept for at least six years and must be stored in a format that can be checked at a later date.

Summary

E-invoicing is a key part of Finland's digital business processes and has been mandatory for public sector procurement since 2020. In the private sector, its introduction is voluntary, but the benefits in terms of efficiency and automation are significant. 

For companies that want to make the transition to e-invoicing effortless, Maventa's solutions offer an easy way to integrate with Peppol and local networks. One integration is enough to provide your customers with the best e-invoicing experience on the market - whether for B2G, B2B, or B2C.