Moving to the next level in the e-invoice system on February 15, 2021, the Egyptian Ministry of Finance and the Egyptian Tax Administration (ETA) continue to modernize the solutions used for tax information management and processing.
The most significant element of this general modernization is the digital processing of invoices. It is a central solution creation activity that enables ETA to follow within the framework of the ETA Reform Program, which is a part of Egypt’s 2030 Digital Transformation vision and improves government services and is one of the main projects. In this context, a total of 400 companies have completed their integration processes with the e-invoice system so far. From February 15, 2021, it has become a legal obligation for companies registered in the system to issue e-invoices for goods or services.
It is valid and applied for all commercial transactions between companies in digital format. E-invoice platform will enable digital issuance of invoices issued between businesses and businesses for consumers.
Benefits Expected by the Egyptian Government from the e-invoice System
With the prepared e-invoice platform, taxpayer assessment, VAT declaration management, audit, and compliance processes become simple.
This makes the following general benefits possible:
Fully digital invoice processing
Simplifying declaration submissions
Reports and additional information, both at the level of all companies and Egypt’s economic activity
Enhanced digital taxpayer experience
Encourage the informal economy to comply with official standards
Specific taxpayer benefits expected in the short term are:
Verifying invoice items and data for the parties before issuing
Improving the taxation position of the company by classifying it as a Low-Risk company
Facilitate intercompany payment methods for VAT
Improving invoice exchange methods between companies
Facilitate CPA review to prepare financial statements
Specific taxpayer benefits expected over the long term are:
Reducing administrative burden, transaction costs, and the need to archive paper invoices
Reducing control processes with the possibility of remote control
Tax returns’ facilitation
The declaration preparation and filing process of facilitation
To effectively support the unification of the informal economy and ensure tax justice
The Egyptian government, which attaches importance to the digitalization of financial transactions, operates legal provisions for companies that do not participate in the e-invoice system. Companies that do not issue e-invoices will have penal sanctions as of mid-April.
Egypt attaches great importance to the digitalization of commercial transactions and tax transactions. These digitalization elements will inevitably contribute to the growth of Egypt.