{
  "id": 12563824,
  "title": "How Verifactu will affect Spanish SMEs and self-employed after its delay",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/how-verifactu-will-affect-spanish-smes-and-self-employed-after-its-12563824",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-07T06:03:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/07/how-verifactu-will-affect-spanish-smes-and-self-employed-after-its-delay"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Spanish authorities have delayed the implementation of Verifactu, the electronic invoicing system, until 2027 and potentially 2028. Verifactu aims to bolster tax control over companies and self-employed individuals by mandating the use of certified software for invoice issuance, ensuring authenticity, integrity, and traceability.\n\nOriginally scheduled for implementation in 2026, the delay pushes back the deadline by a year, giving companies and self-employed individuals more time to adapt. The new law will require companies subject to Corporation Tax to comply starting in 2028, while self-employed workers and SMEs will have until 1 July 2028 to adjust their practices.\n\nWhile the extension provides additional time for businesses to integrate Verifactu into their IT programmes and internal processes, it has also introduced confusion regarding technical requirements and final implementation dates. This uncertainty has been compounded by concerns raised by self-employed workers' organizations and the business community. The National Federation of Associations of Self-Employed Workers (ATA) had previously urged for further extension, citing adaptation challenges and the lack of clear information.\n\nNonetheless, a representative from the Ministry of Finance's technicians' union, Gestha, believes that the extension provides a crucial avenue for millions of taxpayers to navigate the transition. Despite the delay, Verifactu remains a significant structural change in Spain's tax system, designed to digitize the economy and enhance fiscal transparency. The provisions, promoted by the Tax Agency, signal a move towards increased digital services and regulatory scrutiny, with potential penalties for non-compliance once fully implemented.\n\nEurostat data reveals that only 58% of EU small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have established a basic level of digital services, falling short of the 90% target for 2030. This digital gap is even wider among larger companies, where digitalization stands at 91%. Spain's figures demonstrate progress but also limitations in SME digitalization. A survey by the National Statistics Institute (INE) shows that 44.3% of companies utilize cloud computing, 21.1% employ artificial intelligence, and 84.5% maintain a website. However, adoption rates of more advanced technologies remain uneven, particularly among small businesses.",
  "summary": "The Government's delay in bringing the Verifactu e-invoicing system into force gives firms and the self-employed more time, but fuels uncertainty over its rollout.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews Business",
        "title": "How Verifactu will affect Spanish SMEs and self-employed after its delay",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/how-verifactu-will-affect-spanish-smes-and-self-employed-after-its",
        "published": "2026-10-07T06:03:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}