UK publishes B2B e-invoicing roadmap: Peppol mandate starts 1 April 2029

Summary

The UK government released its Roadmap for E-Invoicing Implementation alongside the Autumn Budget. It confirms a single go-live date of 1 April 2029 for mandatory B2B e-invoicing, with Peppol at the core of the model.
The next key steps are in Spring 2027. They include technical consultations on UK e-invoicing standards and Peppol Access Point certification, a decision on the long-term home of the UK Peppol Authority, and primary legislation through Finance Bill 2026.
The full requirements will be confirmed between October 2027 and April 2028. These cover scope, exemptions, standards, business identifiers and accreditation. Readiness testing follows in Summer 2028, and the infrastructure goes live in Winter 2028.

Extended article

The UK has published its long-awaited Roadmap for E-Invoicing Implementation alongside the Autumn Budget. It comes almost a year after the government first said it intended to introduce mandatory e-invoicing in 2029. The roadmap was shaped by months of co-creation with businesses, software providers and industry bodies. It sets out how the UK will move from policy intent to a working mandate.

One go-live date, built on Peppol

The government chose a single go-live date of 1 April 2029 instead of a phased rollout by business size or turnover. Peppol forms the backbone of the framework. This places the UK alongside other jurisdictions that use a decentralised, interoperable network model rather than a centralised government clearance platform.

Key milestones

Timing	Milestone
Spring 2027	Technical consultation on UK e-invoicing standards, building on Peppol
Spring 2027	Technical consultation on Peppol Access Point certification requirements
Spring 2027	Decision on the long-term home of the UK Peppol Authority (currently within NHS Supply Chain)
Spring 2027	Primary legislation expected to become law through Finance Bill 2026
Autumn 2027	Guidance on how EDI and legacy systems will work alongside the Peppol framework
Oct 2027 – Apr 2028	Full requirements confirmed: scope, exemptions, standards, business identifiers for Peppol registration, and Access Point certification
April 2028	Updated VAT guidance, taxpayer obligations and the exemption process published
Spring 2028	Software provider requirements published, including how any UK accreditation will relate to OpenPeppol governance
Summer 2028	Readiness testing with software providers
Winter 2028	Infrastructure and governance arrangements go live for provider onboarding and accreditation
1 April 2029	Mandatory e-invoicing begins; all software providers expected to have completed any required UK Peppol Authority accreditation

What this means in practice

Much of the detail is still to come. The Spring 2027 technical consultation is the main chance for service providers and businesses to influence the technical specifications. Large organisations that rely on EDI should watch the Autumn 2027 guidance closely. It will show whether their existing structured-data flows can continue alongside Peppol or need to be migrated or bridged.

The detailed scope and exemptions will only be confirmed between October 2027 and April 2028. That leaves about one year between final requirements and go-live. Businesses should therefore start preparing well before the final rules are published. Useful first steps include:

mapping B2B invoice flows and volumes
assessing ERP readiness for Peppol
engaging with Access Point providers early
aligning the UK project with existing EU programmes, such as ViDA and the Belgian, French and German mandates

Key takeaway: the UK now has a clear date and a clear architecture. The next 18 months will settle the technical detail, so this is the time to engage.

Source: UK Roadmap for E-Invoicing Implementation