Avalara extends e-invoicing reach

Cloud-based tax compliance automation solutions provider Avalara announced it has extended the range of its e-invoicing services through several new certifications that allow access in other countries.

Specifically, the company has become a Peppol-certified service provider in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the European Union. Peppol is an international network, developed to implement an EU standard, which allows companies to exchange business-critical electronic documents with anyone else who has registered as a part of the network. All public sector institutions and authorities within the EU have been required by law to receive PEPPOL invoices as part of a phasing out of national-level e-invoicing standards.

The new certifications allow Avalara to connect its own customers to the Peppol network and facilitate the sending and receiving of tax-compliant electronic invoices to and from entities on it, as well as issue e-invoices to government departments. This serves to expand Avalara's ability to communicate with government authorities across Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the European Union, and other countries.

"E-invoicing is the clear direction for tax authorities and governments globally. Businesses have historically played a game of whack-a-mole trying to tactically meet new e-invoicing and live reporting mandates popping up across the globe through a mixture of multiple local point software solutions, outsourcing, and heavy customization of systems," said Alex Baulf, senior director of e-invoicing at Avalara. "This approach is not sustainable or scalable, and multinational businesses are now viewing e-invoicing strategically — wanting a trusted accredited service provider that can meet evolving mandates through a single global solution. Accreditation from national Peppol authorities provides businesses with additional trust in the compliance, security and integrity of the service provider that is generating and exchanging compliant invoices with trading partners."  

Avalara said it also intends to be accredited by the Digital Business Networks Alliance as an access point and service provider to facilitate the sending and receiving of electronic business documents over the new exchange framework that will go live later this year in the United States.