The essentials in 30 seconds
Starting January 1, 2026, PDF invoices will no longer be compliant for B2B transactions in Belgium. You will need to issue structured electronic invoices via the Peppol network.
What this means for you: if you organize professional events (training courses, conferences, seminars) and your participants request an invoice, you will need to provide them with an invoice in UBL/XML format, not a PDF.
The problem: most ticketing systems do not support this automatic generation. The result? A significant administrative burden for each invoice.
The solution: a ticketing system that automatically generates Peppol-compliant invoices. That's exactly what PassPass offers. As a Belgian tool, we are one of the only ticketing systems to natively integrate this feature.
Why participant billing is becoming critical for professional events
Your business participants need invoices for:
- reclaim VAT
- claim the purchase as a business expense
- their accounting
Until now, a simple PDF was sufficient. From January 2026, this will no longer be the case. Invoices must be:
- in structured format (UBL/XML)
- transmitted via the Peppol network
- automatically readable by accounting software
A PDF invoice sent by email, even if perfectly legible, will no longer be compliant. And the penalties are not light: a fine of €1,500 for a first offense.
How does PassPass actually work?
1. Automatic collection of billing data
When purchasing their ticket, participants can request an invoice and provide their contact details (company name, VAT number, address).
2. Automatic invoice generation
Based on this information, PassPass automatically generates an invoice in your organization's name, in a Peppol-compliant format (UBL/XML).
3. Numbering management
An integrated system allows billing numbers to be assigned automatically. Most organizers create a dedicated invoice log for PassPass invoices so as not to interfere with their usual numbering system.
4. Export or direct sending to Peppol
Two options:
- UBL export: you retrieve invoices and import them into your accounting software
- Peppol access point connection in your PassPass dashboard: invoices are sent automatically over the network, without manual intervention.
What exactly is Peppol electronic invoicing?
This involves the exchange of structured data between systems, which can be automatically read by companies' accounting and tax software.
In Belgium:
- Electronic invoicing will become mandatory for B2B transactions from January 1, 2026;
- This involves the use of a structured format compatible with the Peppol network (based on European standard EN 16931).
- Exchanged invoices must be transmitted via this network in order to be correctly processed and recognized by accounting systems.
🔍 In other words:
- The structured electronic invoice contains all the necessary data (amount, VAT, identifiers, etc.) in a standard computer format.
- The Peppol network enables these invoices to be transferred between the systems of companies and their partners.
This does not currently apply to invoices sent to individuals (B2C), but rather to those between businesses.
I'm sharing this explanatory video with you, which illustrates this very well:
Traditional ticket offices vs. Peppol-ready ticket offices
Although many ticketing systems can generate simple invoices, few can generate structured Peppol-compatible invoices that are directly integrated, without additional manual work.
➡️ This means that:
- With traditional ticketing systems, you usually have to export the data and use external software to generate compliant Peppol invoices.
- when a suitable solution can do all of this automatically, directly from the ticket sales process.
👉 For example, PassPass offers an integration that allows you to automatically generate invoices for your participants in a format that complies with electronic invoicing in Belgium (Peppol), directly from the ticket office.
👉 This type of integration is becoming a key selection criterion for any organization that needs to comply with the 2026 requirement without adding more tools.
Learn more about the PassPass solution for electronic invoicing: https://pro.passpass.be/facturation-electronique-peppol/
How to prepare for electronic invoicing today
To be ready before the requirement comes into effect, here are some best practices:
✔ Check your current ticket office
- Can it generate structured invoices automatically?
- Does it allow exporting in a Peppol-compatible format?
✔ Integrate a Peppol access point
- Via the existing accounting software
- Or via a ticketing system that natively supports it, such as PassPass
✔ Prepare your accounting data
Why PassPass rather than another ticketing service?
PassPass is one of the few ticketing systems to offer a natively integrated Peppol invoicing solution.
With a traditional ticket office, you will need to:
- manually export your sales
- generate invoices in an external tool
- pay for additional software
- risk making mistakes or omissions
With PassPass, everything in the ticket purchasing process is automated. No manual intervention, no external tools, guaranteed compliance.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Peppol invoicing for ticket offices
Will electronic invoicing be mandatory for everyone?
No. Only for invoices between businesses subject to VAT (B2B). If you sell tickets to individuals without invoices, you are not affected.
Will PDF invoices really no longer be accepted?
Exactly. PDF or paper invoices will no longer suffice for B2B transactions. They must be in a structured format and exchanged via Peppol, otherwise heavy fines will be imposed (starting at €1,500 for a first offense => https://nymus.be/fr/arrete-royal-e-facturation-2026/).
I don't have access to the Peppol network. What should I do?
You can either use a Peppol access point via an external provider or go through PassPass, which can send directly to the Peppol network for you.
Conclusion
Electronic invoicing via Peppol is no longer an optional extra: by January 1, 2026, it will become a compliance requirement for all VAT-registered businesses in Belgium.
For professional event organizers, this raises a practical question: how can you automatically generate Peppol-compliant invoices for your participants without adding a heavy administrative burden?
👉 A ticketing solution that integrates this capability as PassPass allows you to anticipate this obligation, save time, and avoid Peppol compliance issues in Belgium without having to use multiple tools.
➡️ Discover how PassPass automates and simplifies Peppol invoicing for your events: https://pro.passpass.be/facturation-electronique-peppol/
