Managing Electronic Documents in New Zealand
As a customer in New Zealand, you can send electronic documents either by email (as attached files) or through the PEPPOL eDelivery Network. To promote the general adoption of PEPPOL, the authorities in New Zealand mandate that all public authorities must be able to receive electronic documents through the PEPPOL eDelivery Network.
In New Zealand, the A-NZ standard, a variant of the Peppol BIS 3.0 Billing standard, is transitioning to the new PINT A-NZ Billing standard. Australia and New Zealand will collectively introduce the PINT A-NZ format, replacing ANZ Peppol BIS 3.0 in stages:
- 15 November 2024 - PINT A-NZ becomes compulsory and Peppol service providers must support its transmission.
- 15 May 2025 - the current A-NZ specification will no longer be maintained.
Currently, there is no mandate requiring anyone to send billing documents to the public sector, unlike in many other countries. However, it has been possible to do so since 2018.
Important
In February 2024, the New Zealand Government proposed plans to increase the adoption of electronic invoicing amongst government organizations and businesses. The proposed measures include setting faster payment targets for electronic invoicing and publishing government payment times for transparency. These initiatives suggest a potential move towards electronic invoicing becoming the default method for invoice exchange offering benefits such as faster payments, improved cash flow, and reduced risk of invoice fraud for businesses of all sizes. The measures are intended to be voluntary, and no specific timeline has been established for their implementation at this time.
To start sending electronic invoices, you'll need to acquire NZBNs (New Zealand Business Numbers) from your buyers and integrate them into your bookkeeping system. NZBNs are unique identifiers for all NZ businesses, and facilitate smoother communication and interaction. Eventually, NZBNs will replace other identifiers, like the Company Registration Number, becoming the primary means for businesses to engage with each other and government agencies.
The table below outlines the current regulatory states and future outlooks for B2G, B2B, and B2C (business-to-consumer) sectors.
| Transaction Type | Current Regulatory | Regulatory Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| B2G | Electronic invoicing has been possible since 2018, but is not mandatory. Supported by Document Capture Supported by Document Output. | Format change due in November 2024 to PINT A-NZ Billing. Transport platform stays the same. Planned to be supported by Document Capture. |
| B2B | Electronic invoicing is possible using Peppol eDelivery. Supported by Document Capture. Supported by Document Output. | The government has proposed a non-regulatory approach to promote the use of electronic invoicing. However, no specific timeline has been set for its implementation yet. |
| B2C | No legislation is in place. | No changes are expected. |
Additional information
Until November 2024, the A-NZ Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (Invoice) is the format to be used. After that, it will be replaced by an upgraded format named PINT A-NZ Billing. This is a Peppol-defined XML format, intended as the base format for Peppol countries outside EU, but still including A-NZ adaptions.
In February 2024, the government announced plans to boost the use of electronic invoicing. This initiative will involve making it mandatory for government organizations to send and receive electronic invoices. The government will propose faster payment processes to encourage this shift towards electronic invoicing. It is important to note that these measures are intended to be voluntary and not regulatory. As of now, there is no specific timeline established for the implementation of these proposals.
To begin sending electronic invoices, you will need to obtain the NZBNs (New Zealand Business Number) of your buyers and add them to each customer record in your bookkeeping system. The NZBN is a unique identifier available to all businesses in New Zealand that facilitates better communication and interaction through a shared network of information. Eventually, the NZBN will replace other business identifiers, such as the Company Registration Number, and will become the primary number used by businesses to interact with other businesses and government agencies.