Finland: VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) and E-Invoicing Requirements

Transition to e‑invoicing: Key insights

In Finland, e‑invoicing is already a cornerstone of public‑sector procurement. Under the Act on Electronic Invoicing in Public Procurement (241/2019), all government bodies must be able to receive structured e‑invoices compliant with EN 16931. Accepted formats include Finvoice and TEAPPSXML. Private‑sector use is widespread. Finland has an adoption rate close to 90% for structured e‑invoicing thanks to long‑standing national standards and well‑developed operator networks. Under the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative, structured e‑invoicing requirements will be extended to all intra‑EU B2B transactions. As a result, Finnish businesses must ensure their systems can issue and receive EN 16931‑compliant e‑invoices, regardless of the format currently used internally.

Structured e‑invoice vs. other digital invoices

As in the EU generally, a structured Finnish e‑invoice must be issued, transmitted, and received in a machine‑readable XML format and must comply with the European Standard EN 16931. A PDF, scanned invoice, or an emailed document is not considered an e‑invoice in Finland. This position is clearly stated in Finnish guidance and in Act 241/2019.

Invoice issuance deadline

Finland applies the standard EU invoicing timeline. Invoices for intra‑EU supplies must be issued by the 15th day of the month following the supply, in line with existing VAT invoicing requirements. For multinational businesses operating from Finland, it is recommended to begin coordinating ViDA‑related system updates well before 2030.

Legal framework for e‑invoicing in Finland

The Finnish legal environment for e‑invoicing is shaped by:

• Act 241/2019 (mandatory B2G e‑invoicing)
• Directive 2014/55/EU (public procurement e‑invoicing)
• European Standard EN 16931
• National formats Finvoice and TEAPPSXML

These rules establish the current scope of mandatory and voluntary e‑invoicing obligations in Finland.

Mandatory B2G

All Finnish public authorities must accept invoices only in structured electronic formats, including Finvoice, TEAPPSXML, and Peppol BIS, fully compliant with EN 16931.

Voluntary B2B

Finland does not have a general B2B e‑invoicing mandate. However, any Finnish business with annual turnover above €10,000 has the legal right to require structured e‑invoices from its suppliers. If such a request is made, the supplier must comply. This right originates from Act 241/2019, Chapter 2, Section 3, and is confirmed in Finnish guidance and internal documentation.

No B2C mandate

E‑invoicing for consumers is optional, although it is widely used in practice through banks and operators.

ViDA legislation

No national ViDA legislation has yet been published in Finland. However, Finland is expected to implement the EU‑wide requirements starting from 1 July 2030.

Requirements for e‑invoicing

A compliant Finnish e‑invoice must be issued in a structured electronic format. Accepted formats include:

• Finvoice (XML)
• TEAPPSXML
• Peppol BIS Billing 3.0

Finland uses a decentralised operator model, and there is no government‑hosted e‑invoicing platform for B2B or B2C transactions. Common operators and access points include:

• Basware
• Pagero
• Sovos
• Visma/Maventa
• Comarch
• Handi

Electronic signatures or seals are not required. Authenticity and integrity are ensured through the structured format and controlled operator transmission.

Archiving and accessibility of e‑invoices

Under the Finnish Accounting Act, invoices must be archived in their original structured electronic format. Accounting books and financial statements must be retained for ten years, while vouchers and supporting documents, including invoices, must be retained for six years. Invoices may be stored outside Finland provided they remain immediately accessible to the Finnish Tax Administration upon request. Printed or PDF copies do not meet the statutory archiving requirement.

Additional considerations

Finland is not expected to introduce a national B2B e‑invoicing mandate before ViDA. Internal analysis highlights that the coexistence of multiple standards (Finvoice, TEAPPSXML, and Peppol) requires mapping efforts, SMEs may face technical challenges, and widespread voluntary adoption reduces pressure for early mandatory reform. ViDA aims to harmonise the fragmented European e‑invoicing landscape, and Finland is expected to follow the EU timetable.

Direct reporting and SAF‑T

Finland currently has no SAF‑T requirement, no real‑time or transaction‑level VAT reporting, and no domestic digital reporting system for invoices.