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What is Peppol?
Updated: 1 November 2026 · Klik&Shop
Peppol is an international network and set of agreements that lets businesses and governments exchange e-invoices and other business documents automatically. In Belgium it has been the B2B standard since 2026, and Dutch public bodies receive invoices via Peppol too.
Peppol in short
Peppol originally stood for Pan-European Public Procurement OnLine. It is managed by OpenPeppol, an international non-profit association. Peppol has three parts:
- A network of certified Access Points that forward documents securely.
- An address book (SML/SMP and the public Peppol Directory) recording which Access Point serves each receiver.
- Document specifications, of which Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 is the best known: the rules for what an invoice looks like.
The four-corner model
Peppol works like a phone network. You (corner 1) hand your invoice to your Access Point (corner 2), usually your accounting software or invoicing service. It looks up your customer's Access Point (corner 3) and forwards the invoice. Your customer (corner 4) receives it in their own software. You and your customer do not need the same software.
What is a Peppol ID?
Every receiver has a Peppol ID: a scheme code plus a number. Examples:
0106:12345678: Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK) number0190:…: Dutch OIN (often used by public bodies)0208:0123456789: Belgian enterprise number (KBO)9944:NL…B01: Dutch VAT number
In a UBL invoice this address goes in cbc:EndpointID with the scheme in schemeID. If it is missing you get validation errors PEPPOL-EN16931-R020 (seller) or R010 (buyer). See Peppol validation errors explained.
Peppol BIS 3, EN 16931 and UBL
EN 16931 is the European standard for the content of an e-invoice. Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 is a specification (CIUS) of that standard with extra rules, using the UBL 2.1 (XML) syntax. For Dutch suppliers Peppol BIS 3 also contains specific NL rules (for example KvK or OIN as identifier). A Peppol invoice is therefore a UBL file that passes all of those rules.
Do I need an Access Point?
To send or receive via Peppol you need a connection through an Access Point. Many accounting packages arrange this for you. Creating and checking a UBL file does not need an Access Point: use our web form, the API and the validator. You can then upload the file to your accounting software or portal. Klik&Shop is not an Access Point and does not send invoices.
FAQ
Is Peppol free?
The Peppol network itself does not charge you as a user, but Access Points (accounting packages, invoicing services) may. Compare your software provider's terms.
What is the difference between Peppol and UBL?
UBL is the XML format of the invoice. Peppol is the network and set of agreements; Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 defines which UBL fields are mandatory and which rules apply.
How do I know whether my customer is on Peppol?
Look up your customer in the public Peppol Directory by name or by company or VAT number. Your accounting software usually does this automatically.
Can I be a Peppol receiver in several places?
Per Peppol ID and document type you can only be registered as a receiver with one Access Point. Choose deliberately where your invoices arrive.
Create or check a Peppol e-invoice yourself
Create 2 invoices for free with the web form, validate without limits in your browser, or automate with the API (5 free a month).
Not tax or legal advice. This article gives general information based on public sources (as of 1 November 2026). Rules can change; check your own situation with the tax authority (Belastingdienst, Belgian FPS Finance at efactuur.belgium.be) or your accountant.