It is a generic term to define the services of presentation and electronic payment of bills (Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment).
How much does the treatment of a bill paper cost ?
On this process, the cost treatment of a bill is on average 26 Euro ( 17 Euro charged to the buyers and 9 Euro to the supplier). In case of litigation this cost can be multiplied by 10.
* source BVA for B-process, January 2002, 1000 questioned French companies
Which are the economies generated by the electronic invoice ?
The savings are substantial since they are spread out between the transmission all the way up to the payment. For the buyer, costs for to the data input of bills disappears, the archiving costs are minimized and the whole treatment is made simple. For the suppliers, printing, folding and stamping envelopes are eliminated. Following up on a bill has never been easier with the tools provided in the complete solution.
What does the term electronic archiving of bills mean ?
The electronic archiving consists in eliminating the paper bill replacing it by an electronic bill.
Have we right to eliminate totally bill paper for them ?
Yes, as long as the process used conforms with the conditions set by the French General Tax Code. A declaration of usage must be sent to the DGI prior to using such a system. When all conditions are met (integrity of messages, summary list, archiving...) we can then start billing electronically.
Do you have to get a special accord with the DGI ?
No since 1998, the French General Tax Code replaced the accord by a simple declaration.
Do we keep the flow paper and electronic in parallel ?
Yes, corporation can use the electronic archiving all while preserving the paper billing in place. In this case, the electronic bill is the proof document but the paper bill supports it.
What are the archiving constraints ?
The bills have to be preserved three years on electronic support (delay return) and another three years on a support the company chooses. At any time the DGI can unexpectedly carry out an all out control on the respect of archiving constraints.
What other fiscal obligations does the company have to comply with ?
The taxation authority requests the ability to trace as well as integrity of information since input up to the original document for the supplier.
Which items law do reference on the electronic archiving of bills ?
In France : article 289 bis of the General Tax Code. In Europe : the DIRECTIVE/115/CE of December 20, 2001.
What about European Regulation ?
1999/93/CE is a Directive of the European Union relative to electronic signature. It proposes electronic certificates as a means to sign any documents.
1994/82/CE is a Recommendation of the European Union on how to transfer structured data between business partners.
2001/115/CE is a Directive of the European Union concerning invoices. It proposes two options to treat the dematerialization of invoices. Either by transfering it in a structured data format (and they refer to 1994/82/CE recommendations), or by adding an electronic signature to the invoices (and they do not refer to 1999/93/CE- however, countries like Germany will apply 93/CE).
93/CE has not been adopted by a large number of countries regarding invoices because in the business logic, invoices are not manuall signed today, why would they be signed tomorrow electronically.
b-process is compliant with 2001/115/CE in terms of structured transfer (82/CE) and electronic signature (93/CE).
What does the term EIPP mean ?