Long-term planning security for electronic invoices with electronic signatures after EU directive amendment
A change to the EU directive offers long-term planning security for the use of electronic signatures on electronic invoices
Duesseldorf, 22 July 2010 - On 13 July 2010, the EU Council of Ministers decided upon an amendment to the EU VAT directive 2006/112/EC. One of the fundamental changes relates to electronic invoice exchange.
The amended directive continues to require all companies to prove the integrity and authenticity of invoices for electronic exchange, in order to be able to use them for pre-tax deductions. The EU Council of Ministers states that this can take place in the future with the international standardized, technological medium of qualified electronic signatures or the EDI procedure. Another additional option is also included in the new directive.
In accordance with article 233 of the new directive in all EU countries, three methods should be authorized in the future to check the authenticity and integrity of electronic invoices:
(1) Electronic signatures based on a qualified certificate
(2) Use of the standardized EDI procedure
(3) internal controls and process descriptions (NEW)
The existing and established procedure listed in article 233, paragraph 2 from the EU Council of Ministers for proof of the integrity and authenticity using electronic signatures is much more flexible and simpler to apply in comparison to other procedures. Complex implementation on both sides is not necessary. The documentation for the procedure can also be created simply and quickly. This proof can also be very efficiently used in fre-quently changing or one-off business relationships. Due to the choice between in-house software solutions and external web services, the right solution is available for all requirements. This means that implementation times of just a few days are achieved. This makes the electronic signature especially interesting for newcomers.
The electronic signature also has considerable international advantages because this procedure has established itself well internationally over the past years and all EU member states safely recognize the electronic signature.
The EDI procedure is generally only suitable for a very limited proportion of electronic invoices, such as with fixed customer-supplier processes. If the business relationships change frequently or if the volume is low, the EDI procedure is usually too complicated and complex.
The newly added option of "internal controls and process descriptions" has unfortunately not been defined in more detail in the amended directive from the EU Council of Ministers. Should proof of the integrity and authenticity be provided in this way, the individual controls and process descriptions must be defined for each individual case and for all participating companies - particularly under consideration of the specific national requirements - and their compliance would have to be documented using regular monitoring. It is therefore to be expected that this option would only be used for very special applications with a very limited number of participants and with unchanging business relationships.
The EU member states have time until the end of 2012 to implement the new directive in national law. The current legal requirements are valid up until implementation.
AuthentiDate has been offering practically tested international solutions for legally compliant eInvoicing on the basis of electronic signatures. The AuthentiDate eInvoicing solutions can be used as a web-service without your own implementation in the company being necessary (www.signamus.com) or as an "in-house signature solution" for integration in the company.
AuthentiDate eInvoicing solutions fulfill the requirements of the current and future EU VAT directive.
The amendment by the EU Council of Ministers for the EU VAT directive 2006/112/EC is available to download here.
Über AuthentiDate
AuthentiDate (www.authentidate.de) is one of the leading providers in the fields of "Secure Data Exchange" and "Secure eHealth“.
As the inventor of the central mass signature, AuthentiDate offers efficient and innovative eInvoicing business process solutions, software, services and consultancy services using electronic signatures and time stamps. AuthentiDate software products and web-services (SaaS) have been used for years by leading global companies such as AIRPRODUCTS, ALCATEL LUCENT, BOSCH, DOW Chemical, E.ON, EnBW, HONDA, JOHN DEERE, JP MORGAN BANK, METRO, TÜV, TELEKOM and UNITED INTERNET etc; businesses that process millions of electronic invoices each day.
AuthentiDate International AG is a certification service provider, certified by the German Federal Network Agency and operates a Trust Center in accordance with the German signature laws. Com-pliance with the strict requirements of the German signature law is proven through a testing and confirmation of the signature law, which includes fulfillment of the EU directive.
Contact:
AuthentiDate International AG
Rethelstraße 47
40237 Düsseldorf
Phone +49 (0)211 – 43 69 89 50
Judith Balfanz, VP Marketing
& Business Development
presse(at)authentidate.de
www.authentidate.de
