E-invoicing since 1 September 2026: what changed and what you still need to do

Where things stand

1 September 2026 has passed: the first stage of France's e-invoicing reform is in force. Many freelancers now wonder whether they are "late". For most, the answer is no — as long as they understand what is actually required.

The one thing that matters: since 1 September 2026, the obligation that applies to you is receiving, not issuing.

The two dates, plainly

| Date | What becomes mandatory | For whom |

|---|---|---|

| 1 Sept 2026 ✅ in force | Receiving e-invoices | All businesses, sole traders included |

| 1 Sept 2026 ✅ in force | Issuing e-invoices | Large and mid-sized companies |

| 1 Sept 2027 | Issuing e-invoices | SMEs, micro-businesses |

If you are a freelancer or micro-entrepreneur: 2026 = receive, 2027 = issue. You still have a year on the heavier part.

What "being able to receive" really means

E-invoices don't land in your mailbox. They arrive on a government-accredited platform (often called a PDP), which makes them available to you. In practice that means: choosing a platform (or using your accountant's), being correctly identified by your SIREN in the central directory, and knowing where to find incoming invoices. For a freelancer it is essentially a registration.

Not connected yet? Don't panic

Volumes build up gradually, as your suppliers subject to issuing start sending. Ask your accountant first — many already connect their clients. Otherwise, pick a platform this week.

What is NOT required of you yet

❌ Issuing your own e-invoices before September 2027 (unless you are a large or mid-sized company).

❌ Switching invoicing software in a hurry.

❌ Becoming an accredited platform yourself.

❌ Changing how you invoice consumers (that falls under e-reporting).

The smart move now

Receiving depends on a third party. Issuing depends only on you — and you can sort it out today, a year early. Switching to Factur-X now means no rush in 2027, a professional signal to large clients who already issue e-invoices, and fewer payment delays because structured invoices go straight into your client's accounting system. New to the format? Read Factur-X explained simply.

With Robi

Robi AI already generates invoices as Factur-X, EN 16931 profile, and checks mandatory fields before every export. Robi is an invoice-creation tool: transmission goes through the accredited platform of your choice.

Bottom line

For a freelancer the reform is two steps: a platform registration in 2026, a format change in 2027. The first can be caught up in a week. The second you can take right now.