Understanding PINT and PINT A-NZ for eInvoicing in Australia and New Zealand
This article describes the PINT and PINT A-NZ formats, as well as why they came to be – and how to start using them in Continia Document Capture and Continia eDocuments.
Definitions
PINT stands for Peppol International Invoice, a standardized eInvoice format developed under the Peppol framework. The goal of this format is to ensure consistency and interoperability across borders, industries, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. PINT is based on the BIS Billing 3.0 specification, but it introduces simplified and unified structures to make global adoption easier.
PINT A-NZ is a localized version of PINT, developed for Australia and New Zealand. This version extends the international PINT specification to meet local requirements, while maintaining interoperability within the Peppol Network. These local requirements include:
- Tax codes and regulatory fields
- Support for the AUD and NZD currencies
- Mandatory fields defined by local authorities for business to government (B2G) transactions
Why PINT?
The global push for eInvoicing, especially within public procurement, has highlighted the need for a common, international standard. PINT was created to:
Reduce complexity across countries by harmonizing invoice formats.
Improve automation and processing speed.
Ensure compliance with national and international regulations.
As governments adopt Peppol as their eInvoicing backbone, PINT is becoming the preferred format in several jurisdictions – including Japan, Singapore, and certain countries in the European Union.
Legislation in Australia and New Zealand
Since 15 May 15, 2025, PINT A-NZ is the required format for all B2G e-Invoicing in Australia and New Zealand. This mandate is part of a broader initiative to enhance efficiency and transparency in government procurement processes. While B2B use is still optional, businesses are encouraged to adopt the PINT A-NZ format early to take full advantage of digital automation and cross-sector compatibility.
For more information, see Managing electronic documents in Australia and Managing electronic documents in New Zealand.
To start using PINT A-NZ
Starting with Document Capture version 25 Service Pack 3 and Document Capture version 26 Service Pack 1, you can send and receive PINT and PINT A-NZ electronic documents through the Peppol Network. For more information, see Setting up the PINT format in eDocuments.