The announcement was shared in the UK’s 2025 Automn Budget [↗], and is the logical conclusion to the public consultation launched earlier that year, making the decision widely expected.
With the European Union approving the ViDA Directive a few months ago, which includes mandatory cross-border e-invoicing from 2030, the United Kingdom’s choice to establish a domestic requirement on a similar timeline is both strategic and practical. Aligning with EU developments will facilitate cross-border invoicing and reporting for all UK companies, easing interactions with their EU counterparties.
The official consultation results [↗] also point toward key elements of the future mandate: a decentralised model (likely based on Peppol) and the potential introduction of real-time invoice data reporting to HM Revenue & Customs, the country’s tax authority.
More details, including technical specifications and the exact implementation timeline, will be shared in the UK’s 2026 Budget, possibly around the end of Q1 2026.
