What is an e-invoice and how to switch to e-invoicing in Estonia?

A PDF invoice is a human-readable picture of an invoice: the buyer has to enter its data manually. An e-invoice is a machine-readable data file that the buyer's accounting program reads by itself — the supplier, amounts, VAT, and lines appear automatically, without re-typing and without typos.

Peppol is a pan-European e-invoice exchange network that lets you send and receive e-invoices across borders using a single standard. Within Estonia, e-invoices often travel through operators (such as Telema); you need Peppol mainly when invoicing a foreign partner or a public-sector body that expects a Peppol e-invoice.

In practice there are three steps: register as an e-invoice recipient in the business register, choose accounting software that supports the e-invoice flow, and connect an e-invoice operator. In Saldofy, e-invoice support runs through the operator Telema, which is connected to the Peppol network, so invoices can be sent and received in the same system where the invoice is created anyway.

As of 01.07.2025, a company marked as an e-invoice recipient in the business register has the right to require an e-invoice from the seller. This means the ability to receive and send e-invoices is increasingly important for Estonian businesses. The exact requirements and registration are handled via the business register (RIK). Source: rik.ee.

Is an e-invoice the same as a PDF in an email? No. A PDF is a picture; an e-invoice is a machine-readable data file.

Do I have to convert all invoices to e-invoices at once? No. Most systems let you keep both PDF and e-invoices in the same flow and move to e-invoices gradually.

Are e-invoices connected to accounting? Yes — when the invoice is created in the same system, the payment and VAT links are created automatically.