Q: Is B2B electronic invoicing mandatory for all companies in Finland?

Under Sections 2 and 4 of Act 241/2019 , qualifying traders and contracting authorities may request EN 16931-compliant invoices from other covered entities. Suppliers must comply with valid requests, subject to statutory exceptions. If no request is made, trading partners may agree to use other formats

Q: How long must invoices and accounting records be archived in Finland?

Under Chapter 2, Section 10 of the Accounting Act , accounting vouchers generally require six years' retention, while financial statements and specified records require ten years. VAT invoices may follow separate calculation rules, with longer periods for certain property investments. Electronic archiving and permitted format conversions must preserve authenticity, integrity and legibility.

Question 1

Is B2B electronic invoicing mandatory for all companies in Finland?

Accepted Answer

Under Sections 2 and 4 of Act 241/2019, qualifying traders and contracting authorities may request EN 16931-compliant invoices from other covered entities. Suppliers must comply with valid requests, subject to statutory exceptions. If no request is made, trading partners may agree to use other formats

Question 2

Can Finnish businesses still issue and receive PDF invoices?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but with strict limitations. In B2B commerce, PDF invoices are permitted only if the buyer has not exercised its statutory right to demand a structured electronic invoice under Act 241/2019. Finnish central government generally requires structured electronic invoices under the State Treasury's invoicing instructions. Suppliers without suitable software may use designated supplier portals.

Question 3

What are the current VAT rates in Finland?

Accepted Answer

Under the Value Added Tax Act, the standard VAT rate is 25.5% (effective from 1 September 2024). The reduced VAT rate applied to groceries, restaurant dining, books, pharmaceutical products, passenger transport, and accommodation is 13.5% (effective from 1 January 2026). A 10% rate applies to eligible newspapers and periodicals. Zero rating applies to qualifying exports and specified intra-EU supplies when the relevant VAT conditions are met.

Question 4

Which structured formats comply with Finnish e-invoicing regulations?

Accepted Answer

Finvoice 3.0, TEAPPSXML 3.0 and Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 support structured invoicing in Finland. Compliance with EN 16931 depends on the actual invoice data, validation rules and accepted syntax. Businesses should confirm the recipient's supported format and delivery channel.

Question 5

What participant identifier is used to route electronic invoices in Finland?

Accepted Answer

Finnish domestic operators commonly use the OVT identifier (OVT-tunnus), consisting of the prefix 0037, the eight-digit Business ID and an optional five-character suffix. In Peppol, Finland uses participant scheme 0216, for example 0216:003712345678. Domestic and Peppol registration details must be checked separately.

Question 6

Does Finland require real-time transaction reporting or CTC clearance?

Accepted Answer

No. Finland does not operate a transaction-by-transaction clearance hub or real-time sales ledger reporting system for domestic transactions. VAT reporting is generally periodic, with monthly, quarterly or annual filing depending on the taxpayer's approved tax period. Returns can be submitted through MyTax and other supported electronic filing channels.

Question 7

How long must invoices and accounting records be archived in Finland?

Accepted Answer

Under Chapter 2, Section 10 of the Accounting Act, accounting vouchers generally require six years' retention, while financial statements and specified records require ten years. VAT invoices may follow separate calculation rules, with longer periods for certain property investments. Electronic archiving and permitted format conversions must preserve authenticity, integrity and legibility.

Question 8

Does Finland require certified fiscal cash registers for retail sales?

Accepted Answer

No. Finland does not mandate certified fiscal hardware, encrypted chips, or online cash register transmission. Under Act 658/2013, traders exceeding the EUR 10,000 turnover threshold generally must offer paper or electronic receipts for qualifying cash and comparable payments, subject to specified transaction exemptions.

Finlande

Exigences de facturation électronique en Finlande

Exigences de facturation électronique en Finlande

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