Verband elektronische Rechnung (VeR) hosted its inaugural Politisches Frühstück in Berlin [↗︎] (official summary and recording [↗︎]) to widen the discussion of B2B electronic invoicing beyond technology and tax circles. The breakfast brought together [↗︎] government officials from finance and digitalization, industry experts, and media representatives, aiming to trigger another phase in Germany’s digital transformation journey.
As a starting point, VeR promotes its recent strategy paper [↗︎] on the “Efficient implementation of the VAT Reporting System in Germany” (Effiziente Umsetzung des Meldesystems, VeR AK Meldesystem led by Dr. Donovan Pfaff, Bonpago, with contributions from Michael Walther, co-founder of The Invoicing Hub).
In summary, major technical elements and infrastructure are available today, offered and operated by a wide range of private service providers both domestic and international. In contrast, implementation of invoicing mandate requirements is still slow and leads to a wide-spread sentiment of un-preparedness and insecurity.
The roadmap towards national VAT notification
Panelist Michael Schrodi, Parliamentary Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Finance, gave a detailed political impulse on e-invoicing as a first step towards transactional, near-time VAT reporting. The ultimate political goal shared between the current and previous coalition, is increased tax fairness by closing of widely used loop holes as well as increasing tax revenue through consistent collection and avoidance of under-reporting. He emphasized that consistent, rapid VAT notifications will enhance tax fairness.
Schrodi provided a clear timeline, adding concrete steps previously known as speculation only. According to Schrodi, the Growth Opportunities Act of March 2024 kick‑started the national e‑invoicing framework.
- Forthcoming legislative updates planned for 2027 will formalize mandatory electronic VAT reporting based on B2B invoicing.
- By July 2030, Germany plans to launch national and intra‑community VAT reporting in lock-step with the European “VAT in the Digital Age” (ViDA) initiative.
- Additionally, Schrodi announced a voluntary pilot operation phase starting in 2029 open to all enterprises to check implementation progress and validate readiness before the final deadline.
Thomas Jarzombek of the Federal Ministry for Digitalisation & Modern State stressed that industry stakeholders possess a self‑interest in adopting e‑invoicing. He urged business associations to lead communication efforts, as improved dialogue will encourage quicker uptake.
Corinna Budras, business correspondent for the FAZ, echoed this sentiment, noting that while e‑invoicing is crucial, it rarely makes front‑page news. She argued that the topic belongs in business sections where readers can appreciate its economic significance rather than in headlines about crises.
Challenges slowing adoption today
Elisa Lutz, tax consultant and CEO of awicontaxTech, highlighted wide-spread corporate hesitancy rooted in insecurity about technology choices. The deliberately wide range of possible implementation approaches creates uncertainty about compliance and integration complexity. Combined with a general lack of communication in the wider public, the sense of urgency is often rather suppressed than turned into systematic action.
The discussion also highlighted the practical realities of current business operations. Many companies still rely heavily on internally grown, often spreadsheet-based processes, including for data required in invoice processing, resulting in operational silos that require significant manual effort and prevent standardisation. This inertia may lead some businesses to postpone full implementation until late 2026 or even into 2027, when the final stage of Germany’s B2B e-invoicing mandate takes effect.
Extending dialogue beyond specialist circles
VeR’s breakfast marks a deliberate shift toward public awareness and political engagement. By bringing the conversation into mainstream media, the association hopes to align Germany’s digital agenda with European partners and efficient implementation of VAT reporting. At the same time, the event reinforces the call to action towards the general economy and also demonstrates how industry‑driven communication can streamline adoption of e‑invoicing standards.
In summary, Germany is progressing through predefined stages toward a fully electronic invoicing ecosystem. While obstacles remain and adoption is sluggish, coordinated efforts of policymakers, industry leaders, and media outlets continue to work towards steady advancement. The breakfast should serve as a catalyst for broader public discussion, underscoring that digital transformation is not merely a technical upgrade but a collective step forward of the economy.
