CEN/TC 434/WG 1 - Definition

The European Commission will in its project “VAT in the digital age” mandate that VAT reporting on intra-EU transactions is performed in near real time and based on EN 16931. This document defines the impact of this legislation on the various deliverables of CEN/TC 434, with a focus on the subset to be sent to tax authorities and how EN 16931-1 will need to be changed.
NOTE 1   The ViDA proposal only applies to EU member states.
This document does not define the subset of the electronic invoice to be sent to the authorities.
NOTE 2   The definition of that subset is a task of the European Commission. As the subset message is not an invoice, but a VAT report, it is not regarded as a Core Invoice Usage Specification (CIUS). The subset therefore needs not to obey the rules for developing a CIUS. For example, not all mandatory elements in the invoice need to be part of the subset.

This document establishes a semantic data model of an e-receipt or a simplified electronic invoice.
NOTE   In the remainder of this document, when “e-receipt” is mentioned, “simplified invoice” is also meant.
The semantic model includes essential information elements that an electronic receipt needs to ensure legal (including fiscal) compliance and to enable interoperability for cross-border, cross sector and domestic trade. The semantic model can be used by organizations in the private and the public sector for documenting by issuing a receipt for the purchase of services and /or goods. It can also be used for documenting a purchase between private sector enterprises. In addition, it has been designed for the use of consumers.

This document applies in case a CIUS is produced as a specification with the objective of registering it in the appropriate registry. This document also establishes requirements for the steps to be taken in the process of creating Core Invoice Usage Specifications (CIUS) as defined in EN 16931-1. Furthermore, this document provides guidance for the creation and implementation of a CIUS.
The following points are the focus:
-   steps that need to be taken in consideration to avoid unnecessary proliferation and fragmentation in the use of CIUSs;
-   guidance on the creation and implementation of CIUSs, with a quality control objective.
It should be noted that it is planned to apply the same principles and processes to extensions that are documented in a separate document.

This European Standard establishes a semantic data model of the core elements of an electronic invoice. The semantic model includes only the essential information elements that an electronic invoice needs to ensure legal (including fiscal) compliance and to enable interoperability for cross-border, cross sector and for domestic trade. The semantic model may be used by organizations in the private and the public sector for public procurement invoicing. It may also be used for invoicing between private sector enterprises. It has not been specifically designed for invoicing consumers.
This European Standard complies at least with the following criteria:
-   it is technologically neutral;
-   it is compatible with relevant international standards on electronic invoicing;
-   the application of this standard should comply with the requirements for the protection of personal data of Directive 95/46/EC, having due regard to the principles of privacy and data protection by-design, data minimization, purpose limitation, necessity and proportionality;
-   it is consistent with the relevant provisions of Directive 2006/112/EC [2];
-   it allows for the establishment of practical, user-friendly, flexible and cost-efficient electronic invoicing systems;
-   it takes into account the special needs of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as of sub-central contracting authorities and contracting entities;
-   it is suitable for use in commercial transactions between enterprises.