Simple and compliant invoicing with Chorus Pro and Peppol

E-invoicing in France

In order to reduce the administrative burden and payment time, the French government has decided to implement mandatory e-invoicing. Invoicing between companies in France is also speeding up.

Discover below what the options are for sending e-invoices to France and get started in a few easy steps.

France Paris

E-invoicing requirements in France

Legal obligations

At the moment, businesses in France are required to send e-invoices to the government. Being able to handle electronic invoices from the government is also mandatory.

The future of e-invoicing in France

As of 1 September 2026 large and mid-sized enterprises (ETI) in France will need to send e-invoices. For micro, small and medium companies (PME) the obligation to send e-invoices will take effect as of 1 September 2027.

All companies, regardless of their size, will need to be able to receive e-invoices as of 1 september 2026.

As part of this reform France is creating a new central platform called PPF (Portail Public de Facturation). Companies can connect directly to that portal or they can send and receive invoices through a certified service provider (Plateforme de Dématérialisation Partenaire or PDP).

France will also implement mandatory tax reporting and a central register which includes whether companies are connected to a PPF or PDP for e-invoicing. The deadline for this change is planned for 1 September 2026.

 

Options for sending e-invoices to France

There are several ways to send an e-invoice to the French government or to a private company. Choose your option below.

How to send e-invoices to France

Ik you want to send e-invoices to Chorus Pro you need to register with a service provider. With Billit you can connect to Peppol as an intermediary or directly to the Chorus Pro API.

Follow the steps below the register with Billit and send your first invoice.

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Step 1

Create a Billit account

  • Create your free trial account using the button below.
  • Enter your company information in the 'My company' tab.
  • Through the menu item 'My Profile' you can further complete your company details.
Billit - Create Account
Step 2

Connect to Chorus Pro via API

These instructions only apply if you want to connect to Chorus Pro via API. If you want to send via Peppol, you can skip this step.

  • In Billit, go to 'Settings' and 'Integrations' in the left-hand menu.
  • Look for 'Chorus Pro' in the search bar or scroll down the list. 
  • Click on the 'available' button.
  • Next, fill in your Chorus Pro user name and password. If you don't have one yet, you can create a Chorus Pro account for free.
Screen Chorus Integrationpage 656X600
Step 2

Create a customer

You can skip this step if you already made the connection to Chorus Pro via API.

  • Click on 'Customers' in the menu on the left and click the '+add' button
  • Fill in your customer's details
  • In the section 'invoicing address' set the country to 'France'

Depending on whether you're sending to the government or a French company, you will now need to enter different identifiers.
You can add a new identifier by clicking the + sign next to 'VAT number'. This will add a new field.

For B2B:

For B2G:

  • Fill in the VAT number of the public institution (if assigned). You can find all numbers in the European database.
  • Enter the SIRET number. Use the Chorus database to look up numbers for the government.
  • After adding the VAT and SIRET number, add the 'Service Code (Code Routage)' as well. Choose the option 'Service Code' from the dropdown to add this field.
Billit - Dashboard
Step 3

Create & send invoice

  • Go to the income tab to create your first invoice and click the '+Add' button
  • In the customer field, select the customer you've just created
  • Fill in the rest of your invoice and click 'create invoice' to finalize
  • Click the 'Send' button to see all sending options
  • Billit will automatically recognize if your customer is connected to Peppol. Click the green 'Send via Peppol' button to send your invoice
Billit - Create Invoice

Why use Chorus Pro via Billit?

Use Chorus Pro via the Billit platform for extra features or get direct access via API.

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Safely exchange sensitive financial data

The identity of everyone affiliated with the network is verified, so you can be sure that the invoices you receive are genuine, and you avoid invoice fraud.

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Automate your invoicing process

The invoices you send through the network are completely digital, so you can process them automatically in your invoicing software.

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Avoid retyping data

E-invoices in the UBL standard are automatically read correctly. This prevents human error during processing.

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Gain more financial insight

Linking to your bank account means that outgoing and incoming invoices are automatically matched and you get a better overview of your company's financial situation.

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Send invoices quickly

Peppol is fast: your recipient will receive your invoice within 10 minutes of sending it. Combined with automatic processing, this will save a lot of time.

What is Chorus Pro?

Chorus Pro is the central national e-invoicing platform in France and is developed by the French government. It allows companies to check payment statuses and submit and manage their invoices to the French government and enterprises. 

Which identifiers are being used in France?

There are many kinds of identifiers for sending invoices via Peppol. Find out the difference between each option below.

Type Description Example
SIRET number This number is required for all enterprises, associations and public entities. 82456145000020
VAT (indentification) number or VAT-id number A unique identification number for entrepreneurs liable to VAT. It should be included on each invoice to customers. A French VAT number starts with FR, followed by 11 digits. FR12345678910
Code Routage (Services) This number is required for invoicing to the government. It consists of 5 digits. 00020
GLN Stands for Global Location Number. It is used by companies to identify their locations, such as legal entities, functions and physical or digital locations. You can request a GLN number with GS1. 5488888010598
DUNS D-U-N-S stands for Data Universal Numbering System and is a 9-digit code to identify a company or business entity. It is a unique number worldwide. 123456789
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