How e-invoices work

Electronic invoices (e-invoices) are machine-readable files with a standard structure, exchanged via an e-invoicing network.
Tipalti receives e-invoices (including credit, debit, and correction invoices) via Peppol. Sending e-invoices via Tipalti isn’t supported.

Processing and regulations

How is an e-invoice different from a standard (PDF) invoice?

• Structured and electronic: e-invoices are fully electronic and follow a known schema, making data extraction straightforward.
• Benefits: Higher accuracy, faster processing, and reduced manual intervention.

How are e-invoices exchanged?

1. The supplier uploads an invoice to an e-invoicing network like Peppol (directly or via an intermediary).
2. The network validates regulatory and structural requirements.
3. Once validated, the invoice is issued on the network.

4. Tipalti collects the e-invoice from the network and makes it available for processing.

   Invoices aren’t exchanged directly between the supplier and payer. They flow through the e-invoicing network.

My vendor is in a country with an e-invoicing mandate (for example, Germany). Am I required to receive e-invoices?

Tipalti can’t provide legal or tax advice. Confirm requirements with a professional tax advisor.

• In countries Tipalti currently supports, international transactions typically don’t require e-invoices. Parties may choose to use them voluntarily.
• Example (Germany): the mandate applies to local or domestic transactions. Cross-border transactions are out of scope.

My entity is in a country not currently supported. What can I do?

Contact Tipalti Support or your representative. We’ll review options and register your interest if a connection isn’t currently available.

Does Tipalti comply with local regulations where my entity operates?

Yes. Tipalti complies with applicable requirements in supported countries, including:

• Archiving (retention)
• Local data storage where required
• Digitally signed PDFs, where applicable

Some requirements are fulfilled via a vetted third-party provider under contractual obligations to ensure data availability when needed.

Can I share the name of Tipalti’s e-invoicing Access Point?

Yes. Tipalti’s Access Point is Storecove.

A company can only be connected to an Access Point through a single provider. This may be relevant if the company already has a solution in place to receive e-invoices.

Can I use different access points for AP and AR?

Yes, but this only applies to the AR (accounts receivable) flow if you use a separate e-invoicing solution outside Tipalti. On the Peppol network, each entity can have one Access Point per flow — one for accounts payable (AP) to receive invoices, and one for AR to send them. Tipalti currently supports AP only, so your AP Access Point is Storecove. If your organization also sends e-invoices, you can register a separate Access Point for that flow through a different provider.

Can customers send e-invoices through Tipalti?

No. Tipalti currently supports receiving e-invoices only.

Can I edit the data in an e-invoice?

• E-invoice file: no. You can’t change the original e-invoice.
• Bill in Tipalti Hub: yes. You can edit bill fields in the processing area (for example, add, remove, or edit lines and update coding) according to internal accounting practices.
• Need a change to the actual e-invoice?
  Dispute the bill and ask the vendor to issue a corrected invoice.

Are OCR or managed services involved in e-invoicing?

No. E-invoices are machine-readable, so Tipalti extracts data directly. OCR or managed services aren’t required.

I received an e-invoice, but the payee name on the bill is blank. Why?

• Tipalti uses a learning mechanism to match supplier information from the e-invoice to a payee record.
• First invoice from a vendor: the payee field may be blank. From the second invoice onward, the field should auto-populate.
• If it’s still blank:
  • Tipalti may be unable to confidently match the payee, or
  • The payee could be inactive.
  • Action: contact Tipalti Support to review and escalate if needed.

What information is shared with the external provider?

To connect your company to receive e-invoices, Tipalti shares:

• Company name
• Registration ID (for example, a VAT number)
• Address, including ZIP or postal code, city, and country

Tipalti doesn’t directly share vendor or invoice data with the provider.

The provider receives the e-invoice from the network, converts it into a uniform format agreed with Tipalti, and then forwards it to Tipalti.

Can I receive other electronic documents (for example, purchase orders) via this flow?

Not at this time. The initial launch supports invoices only, including credit notes, debit notes, and correction invoices.

The amounts or dates in Tipalti Hub differ from the e-invoice. Why?

Some values shown in Tipalti Hub result from system calculations or logic that can override the raw invoice values.

• Example: Auto-tax coding may choose a tax code within ±0.5% of the calculated line rate. In that case, the tax amount displayed is based on the auto-coded value.
• When data is overridden, the UI typically notifies you that a change occurred and explains why.

Terms and definitions

• Access Point: a certified gateway that connects organizations to an e-invoicing network. Tipalti uses Storecove.
• Peppol: a widely used e-invoicing network and standard that enables secure, interoperable document exchange.
• OCR (Optical Character Recognition): technology that reads text from images or PDFs. It isn’t required for e-invoices.
• Credit, debit, or correction invoice: invoice variations used to adjust or correct prior charges.