Implementation Timeline and Legal Framework
The journey of e-Invoicing in Slovakia has been marked by significant legislative and technological developments aimed at aligning with the European Union’s standards and improving public procurement processes. The cornerstone of this initiative is Act No. 2015/2019 on Guaranteed Electronic Invoicing and the Central Economic System, which has been in force since August 1, 2019. This Act mandates that both central and sub-central authorities must accept e-Invoices compliant with the European e-Invoicing standard.
This legislation transposes Article 11(1) of Directive 2014/55/EU into Slovak law, but its implementation is not yet complete. The rollout of the Information System for Electronic Invoicing (IS EFA), the e-Invoicing platform, is anticipated by the end of 2024. This incremental introduction of e-Invoicing obligations will depend on the readiness of IS EFA.
Incremental Stages of e-Invoicing Implementation
The implementation of e-Invoicing in Slovakia is structured into three distinct stages:
- Stage I: Mandatory receiving of eInvoices for contracting entities and voluntary sending of e-Invoices by their suppliers.
- Stage II: Mandatory receiving of e-Invoices for both public contracting authorities and public contracting entities, ensuring full transposition of the e-Invoicing Directive in public procurement.
- Stage III: Mandatory receiving and sending of eInvoices for all contracting authorities, entities, and their suppliers, with the capability for automatic processing and system-to-system communication.
To expedite the process, the Slovak government is considering implementing all three stages simultaneously. However, none of these stages have been implemented yet, and the entire rollout is targeted for completion by the end of 2024.
Challenges and Developments
The Ministry of Finance in Slovakia has faced several challenges in the implementation of e-Invoicing. Despite the approval of European funding in December 2019 for the national e-Invoicing project, delays have postponed the rollout of IS EFA. Originally planned for delivery by July 2022, the e-Invoicing platform is now expected to be operational by the end of 2024.
The Ministry has also proposed a new draft law in February 2021 to introduce real-time invoice reporting for all commercial transactions, including Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions. This draft law aims to gradually mandate real-time reporting and underwent public consultation until March 2021. However, the proposal has stalled and is pending further consultation.
Technical Specifications and Digital Reporting Requirements
The e-Invoicing platform, IS EFA, will be central to Slovakia’s compliance with Directive 2014/55/EU. The platform will support the European technical standards, such as OASIS UBL 2.1 or UN/CEFACT. Additionally, Slovakia introduced the VAT Control Statement in January 2014, requiring all taxable persons registered for VAT to electronically submit detailed transactional data monthly or quarterly. This data must be reported on a transaction-by-transaction basis, except for simplified invoices with tax deductions below EUR 3,000, which can be aggregated.
Future Outlook and Conclusion
Slovakia’s Ministry of Finance is committed to enhancing the e-Invoicing framework to support both public and private sector transactions. The centralised e-Invoicing solution, IS EFA, is expected to streamline the process, reduce compliance burdens, and increase transparency. The final rollout of IS EFA by the end of 2024 will mark a significant milestone in Slovakia’s journey towards full digitalisation of invoice processing and compliance with European standards.
The successful implementation of e-Invoicing will not only improve efficiency in public procurement but also pave the way for broader adoption in the private sector, ultimately transforming Slovakia’s economic landscape into a more transparent and efficient digital economy.
