If you issue invoices in Spain, you have probably already heard about Verifactu. Behind the technical name lies a major shift in how invoices are issued and recorded, and it pays to arrive prepared rather than scrambling at the last minute.
What Verifactu is, in one sentence
It is the system that requires your invoicing software to generate verifiable and tamper-proof invoices, with a record that guarantees they cannot be altered “behind the scenes”. The goal of the Spanish tax authority (Hacienda) is to fight fraud and so-called dual-use software.
In practice, your software must meet a set of technical requirements: chaining the invoicing records together, preserving their traceability and, under the Verifactu mode, being able to send that information to the Spanish Tax Agency.
Who it affects
As a general rule, it affects most companies and self-employed professionals who issue invoices, except for those already on the SII (immediate supply of information). The obligation for software to be compliant, and the entry into force for those affected, has been rolled out in phases, so the sensible move is to not wait for the final quarter.
What this means for you
You don’t have to become a tax expert. What matters is that your way of invoicing is compliant, and there are two paths here:
- Keep invoicing by hand or with non-compliant tools → risk of non-compliance and penalties.
- Use a compliant invoicing system that generates the correct records automatically.
The key: that compliance is automatic, not something you have to remember on every single invoice.
How to adapt without the stress
- Review your current software: is it (or will it be) compliant with Verifactu? Ask your provider directly.
- Centralise your invoicing: if you issue invoices from several places (Excel, templates, a POS terminal…), unify them. It’s the biggest source of errors.
- Automate the repetitive parts: numbering, retention, copies and recording should all happen on their own.
- Lean on free and open-source software: tools like Odoo enable compliant invoicing without tying you to opaque licences.
Turn it into an opportunity
Adapting to Verifactu forces you to put your invoicing in order, and that almost always uncovers processes that can be improved: payments chased by hand, invoices typed in twice, figures that don’t match the bank. Seizing the moment to automate the entire cycle —from invoice to payment— turns an obligation into an advantage.
At Bravo IA we get SMEs’ invoicing ready so it complies with the regulation and, along the way, runs by itself. If you want to know how to get your invoicing sorted and worry-free, we’ll walk you through it in a free audit.