On Tuesday, March 23rd, the Spanish Government approved the Royal Decree formalizing mandatory electronic invoicing for all B2B transactions between companies and professionals. This marks the official rollout of the “Crea y Crece” Law (18/2022).
What does this new regulation establish?
Mandatory E-Invoicing: Required for all business-to-business (B2B) operations.
Structured Formats: Invoices must be interoperable (standard PDFs will no longer be sufficient).
Platform Exchange: Invoices must be exchanged through authorized platforms.
Full Traceability: This includes tracking the entire billing cycle and payment status.
Implementation Deadlines (Pending final Ministerial Order):
Companies with turnover >€8M: 1 year to comply.
All other companies and freelancers: 2 years to comply.
Do not confuse this with “Verifactu”
Many businesses are currently mixing up two distinct reforms. Here is the breakdown:
1. B2B E-Invoicing (Crea y Crece Law)
Scope: Governs the relationship between businesses.
Requirement: Mandates how invoices are sent and received.
Goal: To reduce commercial delinquency and late payments.
2. Verifactu (Anti-Fraud Law – RD 1007/2023)
Scope: Governs the internal billing software and systems.
Requirement: Ensures data integrity, traceability, and anti-fraud measures.
Goal: To prevent tax evasion through automated reporting to the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT).
Both regulations will coexist and are complementary.
What this means for your business
This is not merely a formal obligation; it is a structural shift that will lead to:
Increased control and transparency.
Reduction in late payments.
Process automation.
Greater exposure to Tax Authorities.
For companies that fail to prepare, the challenge won’t just be technical—it will be operational.
Our recommendation: Review your current billing processes, evaluate your software’s compatibility with Verifactu, and define a phased adaptation strategy. Waiting until the last minute is not a viable option. The transition is no longer theoretical. It is imminent.
Minerva Cristobal
Head of Business Services & Outsourcing
mcr@uhy-fay.com
