Re:Security issues with electronic invoices
by looperhacks on Friday December 12, 2025 @05:20PM
(#46249711)
As I understood it, this _is_ the standard that won. It's not like the EU invented it.
Re:Security issues with electronic invoices
by daliusd on Friday December 12, 2025 @05:49PM
(#46250005)
As far as I understand there are multiple XML invoice formats and EN 16931 accepts at least two: UBL and CII. At least in theory. I have no idea how it is going to work out in practice, but I will learn the hard way :-) I have invoicing software as side-project and I have decided to make it usable in EU.
The invoicing standard is an attempt to mitigate reverse charge fraud by gathering more machine-readable data. Some countries even demand that b2b invoices are sent to the country, which then dispatches a copy to the recipient.
Knowing this background, it's pretty clear why the EU is making it mandatory.
Personally, in the abstract I like the idea to mandate the use of an open standard, I think we have way too many inefficiencies from treating many things as text documents that could be data structures. I don't like this particular standard though, it's bloated and the result of a typical top-down process.
I much prefer it when there are competing standards for a while, and one or a couple of winner emerge on technical merits. THEN I have no objections to a regulatory body picking a standard and mandating it.