France
France is the one true gate in European e-invoicing: a plain Peppol Access Point must not carry French regulated domestic B2B flows - only government-accredited platforms (Plateformes Agréées) may.
Profile last verified 2026-07
At a glance
Served today: regulated French domestic flows run through Recommand's accredited Plateforme Agréée route, and cross-border flows ride Peppol directly.
- Exchange model
- Central clearance (CTC)
- B2B mandate
- Reception mandatory for all companies from 1 September 2026; issuance phased 2026 (large & mid-sized) to 2027 (SMEs)
- B2G e-invoicing
- Mandatory for suppliers to public bodies via Chorus Pro
- Formats
- Factur-X (PDF/A-3 hybrid, all profiles) · UBL 2.1 / UN/CEFACT CII with France CIUS · Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 France CIUS
- Peppol identifier schemes
0225French CTC electronic address (FR:FRCTC, keyed on SIREN)The regulated scheme - the central directory (annuaire) manages receiving addresses only under 02250002SIREN (9-digit legal unit)General French Peppol identifier for non-regulated and cross-border flows0009SIRET (14-digit establishment)General French Peppol identifier for non-regulated and cross-border flows- E-reporting
- B2C, cross-border B2B and payment data must be reported to the tax authority on the same calendar as issuance: September 2026 for large and mid-sized businesses, September 2027 for SMEs
- What to know
- Regulated domestic CTC invoices may only be exchanged between accredited Plateformes Agréées. Recommand covers this flow through an accredited platform route, with its own PA accreditation on the roadmap.
Mandate timeline
How Recommand serves France
- Exchange cross-border and non-regulated invoices with French trading partners over Peppol today - these flows ride the normal Peppol network
- Regulated domestic B2B invoices are carried through Recommand's accredited Plateforme Agréée route - one connection covers both regulated and cross-border flows
- Built-in validation covers the EN 16931 formats France accepts (Factur-X, UBL, CII), so documents are mandate-ready
- As the September 2026 deadline approaches, French coverage ships as a platform update - not a new integration project on your side
Frequently asked questions
01Is e-invoicing mandatory in France?
It is coming on a confirmed calendar. All French-established companies must be able to receive e-invoices from 1 September 2026. Issuance (plus e-reporting) starts the same day for large and mid-sized businesses, and on 1 September 2027 for SMEs and micro-businesses. The dates were reconfirmed by the 2026 Finance Law.
02Can I use a regular Peppol Access Point for French invoices?
Only for non-regulated flows, such as cross-border invoices. France's regulated domestic B2B invoices may only be exchanged between accredited Plateformes Agréées. Recommand covers the regulated flow through an accredited platform route, so both sides are handled through one connection.
03What is a Plateforme Agréée (PA)?
A government-accredited private platform (formerly called PDP) - the only channel for France's regulated invoice flows. The public portal was descoped in October 2024 and no longer distributes invoices; it keeps the central address directory and collects tax data from the accredited platforms.
04What formats does the French mandate accept?
Three EN 16931-compliant syntaxes: Factur-X (a PDF/A-3 hybrid with embedded XML), UBL 2.1 and UN/CEFACT CII, each with French CIUS profiles. Regulated addressing uses Peppol scheme 0225 on the company's SIREN, managed in the central directory.
Your first document in minutes
Create an account, register your company on the network, and send a compliant invoice - before the coffee gets cold. Free for 25 documents a month.