As financial complexity grows and regulations evolve, digitization is becoming table stakes in the world of B2B payments. Nowhere is this more evident than electronic invoicing (eInvoicing): the move from paper or PDF invoices to structured digital formats that flow automatically through accounts receivable (AR) systems. What started as a slow shift is now accelerating into a global transformation. In fact, 41% of the world’s countries now have laws that require invoices to be sent and reported digitally – most recently joined by the U.S. and European Union.
This seemingly small adjustment fundamentally changes how international business is conducted. More than 60% of finance leaders say eInvoicing will significantly impact their tax management within the next two years.
Whether your country has a mandate in place or not, if you’re a multinational or international B2B business, you need to start strategizing. Billtrust’s 2025 Global eInvoicing Compliance Report brings order to the chaos, laying out in clear terms what’s happening in a complex, fast-changing regulatory landscape plus insight from experts at Deloitte.
Read on to learn why the next few years will mark a global tipping point for eInvoicing, the major forces driving urgency, and the strategic moves you should make.
A Perfect Storm of Global Change: 3 Major Forces Drive Urgency
With landmark initiatives rolling out across the EU and a bold push from the U.S. federal government, eInvoicing is becoming the new default. With more countries joining the movement to add regulatory mandates, the next five years will redefine how businesses send, receive, and report invoices across borders, industries, and sectors.
Let’s look more closely at the major forces highlighted in this year’s compliance report.
Force 1: Europe’s ViDA Deadlines are Closing In
The European Union’s VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative may be the most ambitious eInvoicing reform effort to date. It introduces:
- Standardized digital reporting required for all cross-border B2B transactions in the EU
- A Harmonized eInvoice Standard (EN 16931) with the potential to serve as a model for broader global agreements in the future
- Permission for countries to implement domestic mandates without EU
pre-approval - Near real-time invoice data sharing between suppliers, customers, and tax authorities
As of March 2025, ViDA has officially been introduced, requiring mandatory eInvoicing and digital reporting for cross-border B2B and B2G transactions across the EU. These regulations are set to take full effect by July 1, 2030. The initiative also aims for full harmonization of reporting across all EU countries, including domestic transactions, by 2035.
The ViDA framework is still taking shape. See how ViDA and many mandates are evolving across a host of major countries with Billtrust’s quarterly updates.
Force 2: Real-Time Tax Control Is Going Global
From Latin America to the Middle East, countries are adopting real-time tax control models known as Continuous Transaction Controls (CTCs). These models require that businesses create the invoice in a mandated digital format and involve governmental tax authorities actively accessing invoice data in (near) real-time, without disrupting the billing process between suppliers and buyers.
The primary aim of CTC models is to verify tax compliance and ensure compliance among all parties. This model can engage service providers from both sides of the transaction, resulting in five distinct parties being part of a single transaction.
Adoption is accelerating fast. By 2030, these CTC models will cover most of the globe.
Force 3: The U.S. Enters the Arena
In March 2025, the United States issued an Executive Order mandating digital payments for all federal transactions – a major step in the eInvoicing movement. All U.S. federal agencies must stop issuing paper checks and receipts by September 2025. After that, nearly all federal payments are required to be made electronically via EFT, direct deposit, card, or digital wallets.
For U.S.-based businesses, eInvoicing mandates are no longer a question of if but when. While the Executive Order focuses on B2G payments, it signals what’s next: a broader shift toward digitization.
If you’re currently sending or receiving paper checks for federal invoices or reimbursements, the clock is ticking. Get Billtrust’s complete preparedness guide here.
The bottom line:
- ViDA is now law, marking a huge shift toward harmonized reporting and more centralized oversight across the EU.
- Real-time invoice validation is accelerating and will soon become the global norm.
- The U.S. is no longer sitting on the sidelines. The new Executive Order is widely seen as the first step toward broader B2B eInvoicing mandates in North America.
Waiting for deadlines will only shrink your timeline and increase your costs. Smart finance teams are paying close attention to position their organization for success today and as new mandates arise.
The Strategic Payoff: 4 Key Advantages of eInvoicing
eInvoicing isn’t just about going paperless. Here’s how early adopters benefit big by cutting costs, reducing risk, and modernizing for the long haul.
1. It’s a lot easier to prevent fraud in real-time than it is to manually look back, spot irregularities, and recover lost funds after the fact.
This is the goal of today’s fast-growing CTC models: systems that validate invoice data instantly, giving governments the power to detect and block fraud as it occurs. It’s estimated that eInvoicing can cut this gap by as much as 50%.
This is one of the key drivers behind the new U.S. Executive Order. The Social Security Administration alone loses an estimated $100 million per year to direct deposit fraud. In the EU, ViDA aims to recapture up to €18B annually – €11B directly tied to anti-fraud measures.
2. It’s cheaper to go digital upfront than to squander budget on an outdated, error-prone process.
The cost of converting paper documents into digital records can add up fast. In 2024, it cost the U.S. government (and thus, taxpayers) $657M. By eliminating paper-based payments, governments can reinvest avoided costs and put dollars back into public services and operations. Of course, organizations will significantly save as well. ViDA is projected to save EU businesses over €4B in administrative and compliance costs over 10 years.
3. eInvoicing requires less and allows you to do more.
No more creating invoices in Word, tracking payments in spreadsheets, and resolving errors by hand. With the right setup, digital invoice creation and delivery can be a nearly touchless process. Invoices are automatically generated, delivered in the correct format, routed to the right approver and client AP portal, and matched to payments – with real-time tracking every step of the way. As your business grows, invoicing scales along with it. eInvoicing is the closest thing finance teams have to an “easy” button.
Automation helps you digitize, but the greatest gains come from more advanced forms of AI that help you strategize. Billtrust’s integrated AR solutions have groundbreaking AI innovation like GenAI and Agentic AI built in – ensuring compliance with ever-evolving regulations while unlocking next-level visibility, efficiency, and cash flow management.
4. It’s a lot easier to steal something when it’s moving freely without protection.
The U.S. Government reports treasury-produced paper checks are 16x more likely to be lost, stolen, or moved via an unauthorized transfer to a different bank account. Fraud is just as likely at the business level. That’s why more financial leaders are drawing a line: no more leaving payment security up to envelopes, inboxes, and best intentions. With eInvoicing, everything is encrypted, validated, and more traceable from start to finish. For businesses, trust is reinforced with every transaction.
Don’t forget: customers will also notice the difference.
- eInvoicing makes it faster, clearer, and easier to do business with you. Customers gain access to an online, self-service portal where they can view and download invoices, make payments instantly, and check their payment status anytime.
- eInvoicing opens the door to flexible, digital payment options that younger generations expect. Roughly 70% of Gen Z’ers say a company’s ability to accept modern payment types positively shapes their view of the brand. Get more insight into Gen Z payment behavior with Billtrust’s latest report
Formats Vary, Deadlines Shift, but the Direction is Clear
Between now and 2030, global eInvoicing will shift from trend to norm. If you’re a finance leader at a multinational or international business, this is the year to get ahead before mandates, markets, or missed opportunities catch you off guard.
Billtrust’s 2025 Global eInvoicing Compliance Report dives deeper into the three major forces driving this global shift, plus much more – like everyone’s favorite topic, data. There’s also a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of inaction vs. the ROI of transformation.
Billtrust has been at the forefront of global eInvoicing for more than two decades. We monitor shifting regulations and support clients with digital solutions purpose-built for compliance across many countries. Whether it’s determining which mandates apply to you or how to start building your roadmap, you’ll find trusted answers and insights in Billtrust’s wealth of eInvoicing resources:
2025 Global eInvoicing Compliance Report
Interactive map shows you the government mandates across the globe
Quarterly compliance articles explore country-by-country updates
If you need a personal consultation, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our global invoicing experts.
