What was announced
In the November 2025 Budget the government said it will require e-invoicing for VAT invoices between businesses, and from businesses to government, from April 2029. In 2026 it confirmed the Peppol network as the way invoices will travel, and said a roadmap with the milestones to April 2029 will be published at Budget 2026. Source: gov.uk, HMRC Transformation Roadmap: update 2026, and Tax update 2026: simplification, modernisation and fairness.
What counts as an e-invoice
A structured file that software can read, sent over the Peppol network. A PDF, a Word file or a scanned image attached to an email will not count once the rule applies. Your accounting software will most likely create and send the structured invoice for you.
What to do this year
Nothing urgent. Ask your accounting software provider, in writing, whether and when it will support Peppol. Make sure every customer record has a correct legal name, VAT number and email address, because e-invoices are matched on those. Fix missing details now while it is cheap.
How Xevrion helps
Xevrion chases invoices whatever format they are in, reads the replies and follows up. When your software moves to e-invoicing, the chasing carries on the same way. Xevrion is not an e-invoicing system and does not plan to be one; it works alongside yours.