Global
| Access Point | Entry point for connecting to electronic document networks such as Peppol |
| B2B | Business-to-Business transactions |
| B2C | Business-to-Consumer transactions |
| B2G | Business-to-Government transactions |
| BIS (Peppol) | Business Interoperability Specifications (see Peppol) |
| Centralized Model | E-invoicing model where invoices are routed through a central hub or platform |
| CIUS | Custom Invoice Specification that extends the CORE standard while maintaining compliance |
| CII (UN/CEFACT) | Cross Industry Invoice format (see UN/CEFACT CII) |
| Clearance Model | Regulatory architecture where invoices must be validated and approved by tax authorities before becoming legally valid (also known as CTC) |
| Compliance | Adherence to legal and regulatory requirements |
| CORE | European invoice standard base specification that defines the semantic data model for electronic invoices |
| Correction | Process of fixing errors in previously issued documents |
| Credit Note | A document issued to correct or cancel a previously issued invoice |
| CTC | Continuous Transaction Control, a clearance model where transactions are validated in real time |
| Debit Note | A document issued to increase the amount owed from a previous invoice |
| Digital Signature | Cryptographic signature ensuring document authenticity and integrity |
| E-invoicing | Electronic invoicing process using structured data formats |
| E-reporting | Real-time reporting to the tax authority |
| EN 16931 | European standard that defines the semantic data model for electronic invoices, ensuring interoperability across EU countries (see EN 16931-1:2017 Addon) |
| Five-corner Model | E-invoicing model that integrates e-invoicing with e-reporting, involving supplier, buyer, their platforms, and the tax authority |
| Fiscalization | Software and hardware requirements implemented to avoid fraud in the retail sector |
| Hybrid Model | E-invoicing model combining multiple approaches, such as PDF with embedded XML |
| Integration | Connection between different systems or services |
| Migration | Process of moving from one system or standard to another |
| Onboarding | Process of registering and setting up new suppliers or customers |
| Participant | Entity registered to send/receive documents through electronic networks (see Peppol) |
| Proof of Ownership | Documentation verifying legal entity ownership |
| QR Code | Quick Response code containing document verification information |
| Registration | Process of enrolling entities in electronic document systems |
| RTIR | Real-Time Invoice Reporting model, where invoices are reported to tax authorities in real time |
| Sandbox | Testing environment for development and integration |
| Schema Validation | Process of checking document structure against defined rules |
| Tax Authority | Government agency responsible for tax collection and compliance |
| Tax Regime | The jurisdiction’s tax rules and regulations applied to documents |
| UBL | Universal Business Language, OASIS standard for electronic documents (see OASIS UBL) |
| Validation Error | Issue identified during document structure or content verification |
| White-label | Service offered under another company’s brand |
Belgium
| BOSA | Belgian Peppol Authority, the organization managing Peppol registration in Belgium |
Brazil
| NF-e | Nota Fiscal Eletrônica, Brazilian electronic invoice for B2B and B2G sales of goods |
| NFC-e | Nota Fiscal de Consumidor Eletrônica, Brazilian electronic invoice for B2C retail transactions |
| NFCom | Nota Fiscal de Serviços de Comunicação Eletrônica, Brazilian electronic invoice for telecommunications and communication services |
| NFS-e | Nota Fiscal de Serviços Eletrônica, Brazilian electronic invoice for B2B and B2G service transactions |
| RFB | Receita Federal do Brasil, the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service |
| SEFAZ | Secretaria da Fazenda, Brazilian state tax authority infrastructure managing electronic invoicing |
| SPED | Sistema Público de Escrituração Digital, Brazil’s comprehensive e-reporting system collecting financial, accounting, tax, and labor information |
Colombia
| DIAN | Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales, the Colombian tax and customs authority (see DIAN Colombia) |
| Documento Equivalente Electrónico | Colombian electronic document required for B2C transactions since 2024 |
| FEV | Factura Electrónica de Venta, Colombia’s official electronic invoice format for B2B and B2G transactions |
| Municipal Code | Five-digit code used in Colombia instead of postal code to specify the municipality |
| RADIAN | Colombian system combining e-invoicing with negotiable instruments, enabling invoices to be used as financial instruments |
| Título Valor Electrónico | Electronic negotiable instrument status given to invoices in Colombia’s RADIAN system |
France
| Annuaire | French state directory used by Plateformes Agréées to route invoices to buyers |
| ChorusPro | French government platform for B2G electronic invoicing, mandatory for invoicing public entities (see ChorusPro France) |
| Data Concentrator | French government system that stores VAT data for each transaction as part of e-reporting |
| DGFIP | Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, the French public finance directorate responsible for tax collection |
| PA | Plateforme Agréée, certified platform in France that routes invoices through Peppol and submits data to the data concentrator (see PA Guide) |
| PDP | Plateforme de Dématérialisation Partenaire, former name of the Plateforme Agréé |
| Peppol BIS 3.0 | Latest version of Peppol Business Interoperability Specifications, fully compliant with EN 16931 (see Peppol) |
| PPF | Portail Public de Facturation, French public invoicing portal part of the PA system |
Germany
| GoBD | German rules (Grundsätze zur ordnungsmäßigen Führung und Aufbewahrung von Büchern, Aufzeichnungen und Unterlagen in elektronischer Form) ensuring data integrity, readability, and domestic accessibility for archived documents |
| XRechnung | Germany’s standard for e-invoices in public procurement (B2G), based on EN 16931 and implemented in UBL or CII syntax (see XRechnung Guide) |
| ZUGFeRD | German hybrid format combining PDF/A-3 with embedded XML, aligned with EN 16931 and equivalent to France’s Factur-X (see ZUGFeRD Guide) |
Greece
| IAPR | Independent Authority for Public Revenue, the Greek tax authority managing myDATA (see myDATA & IAPR Guide) |
| MARK | Unique identifier assigned by myDATA to validated invoices in Greece |
| myDATA | My Digital Accounting and Tax Application, Greece’s electronic invoicing and reporting platform |
Italy
| Documento Commerciale | Italian digital fiscal document for B2C transactions that records sales and transmits them to the tax authority |
| FacturaPA | Italian standardized XML format for electronic invoicing used in B2B and B2G transactions |
| Recipient Code | Seven-digit alphanumeric identifier used in Italy’s SDI system to route invoices to the correct recipient |
| SDI | Sistema di Interscambio, Italy’s central hub for transmitting, validating, and delivering electronic invoices (see SDI Italy) |
| Unique Code | Six-character alphanumeric code (also known as IPA code) used in Italy to identify specific government agency offices for B2G invoices |
Mexico
| CFDI | Comprobante Fiscal Digital por Internet, Mexico’s standardized electronic invoicing format |
| CSD | Certificado de Sello Digital, digital seal certificate required for Mexican CFDI invoices (see SAT Mexico Guide) |
| PAC | Proveedor Autorizado de Certificación, Authorized Certification Provider required to validate and certify Mexican CFDI invoices |
| RFC | Registro Federal de Contribuyentes, Mexican tax identification number |
| SAT | Servicio de Administración Tributaria, Mexico’s tax authority managing the CFDI system (see SAT Mexico) |
Poland
| KSeF | Krajowy System e-Faktur, Poland’s mandatory electronic invoicing system (see Poland) |
Portugal
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ATCUD | Unique code assigned to each invoice by the Portuguese Tax Authority (AT) |
| AT | Autoridade Tributária, the Portuguese Tax Authority (see AT Portugal) |
| SAF-T | Standard Audit File for Tax, XML-based format used to report accounting and invoicing data to tax authorities |
Spain
| AEAT | Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria, the Spanish Tax Agency |
| FACe | Spanish centralized government platform for submitting B2G invoices in Facturae format |
| NaTicket | Upcoming electronic invoicing system for Navarra, Spain, based on TicketBAI and VERI*FACTU |
| SII | Suministro Inmediato de Información, Spain’s near-real-time VAT reporting system for large companies |
| TBAI | TicketBAI identifier, unique code assigned to each invoice in the Basque Country’s TicketBAI system |
| TicketBAI | Electronic invoicing and anti-fraud system used in the Basque Country (Álava, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa), Spain |
| VERI*FACTU | Spain’s e-reporting and fiscalization system requiring digitally signed invoices with QR codes for B2B transactions |