Accounting software that handles electronic invoicing rules for companies in France

For a company in France, look for accounting software that either is an officially registered “Plateforme Agréée” (PA) or connects to one. A regular PDF invoice sent by email isn’t enough for the new e-invoicing process. The French tax authority says businesses must use a PA to send and receive electronic invoices and transmit required transaction/payment data. (impots.gouv.fr)

Options to consider

• Pennylane — accounting and invoicing in one service; Pennylane says it is a PA and supports sending and receiving e-invoices. (help.pennylane.com)
• Sage — offers options from small-business tools such as Sage Active and Sage 50 to more extensive systems such as Sage 100 and Sage X3; Sage says its PA is integrated with its listed products. (sage.com)
• Cegid — worth evaluating for more structured accounting or ERP needs; confirm that the specific product and setup you’re considering connect to a PA.
• Your existing software plus a PA — you may not need to replace your accounting system if its vendor confirms it is a compatible solution connected to a PA. (impots.gouv.fr)

Key dates: all companies must be ready to receive e-invoices from September 1, 2026. Large and intermediate-sized companies must also issue them from that date; small and medium-sized companies and microbusinesses must issue them from September 1, 2027. (impots.gouv.fr)

Before choosing, check the exact product/version, PA connection, e-reporting support, accounting integrations, and total cost. Verify the provider against the French tax authority’s current PA list—not just a vendor’s claim of being “compliant.” If you tell me your company size, industry, and whether you want full accounting or just invoicing, I can narrow this to a couple of suitable choices.

The French B2B e-invoicing mandate is already in effect, so the software you pick needs to connect to an approved platform now. From 1 September 2026 all businesses must be able to receive e-invoices, large and mid-sized companies must issue them, and SMEs and micro-enterprises follow on 1 September 2027.

How the pieces fit

• France originally used the term Plateforme de Dématérialisation Partenaire (PDP), but has since moved to the term plateforme agréée (approved platform, or PA). Your software either is one or connects to one.
• For B2B, Chorus Pro is NOT the channel. From 1 September 2026, business-to-business invoices are exchanged through a PDP.
• Chorus Pro stays available — but only for invoicing the public sector (B2G). If you bill French government bodies, you need that channel too, and a good tool should support it.

Accounting and invoicing tools that advertise compliance

• Pennylane: Immatriculée comme PDP en 2024, Pennylane permet d'ores et déjà d'envoyer et recevoir des factures électroniques au format Factur-X de manière conforme, et propose sa connexion PDP gratuitement à ses clients. Pennylane is a strong pick for small and mid-sized firms and works with accountants.
• Sage: Sage intègre sa propre plateforme agréée (Sage Network PA) dans ses offres logicielles sans coût additionnel. This suits companies already on Sage accounting.
• Tiime: Notre plateforme a été agréée PA, (ex-PDP) par l'État français & la DGFIP. Its free tier makes it a low-cost option for micro-businesses.
• Esker: Esker est une Plateforme Agréée immatriculée par l'État. It is aimed at larger, ERP-connected setups and lets you choose the format of the invoices issued: UBL, UN/CEFACT CII or Factur-X.
• Axonaut: Axonaut est une plateforme tout-en-un (CRM, facturation, trésorerie, gestion des dépenses) et est immatriculée comme Plateforme Agréée (PA) par l'État.
• Sellsy: Sellsy joue à la fois le rôle de PA d'émission et de réception, covering both sending and receiving.
• Others to consider: Abby, Yooz, Seqino and Cegid also appear in French comparison guides. Odoo is described as an open-source ERP suited to e-invoicing, but check whether it works through a PA or a partner connector.

Before you commit

1. Confirm the vendor's PA registration on the official DGFiP list of approved platforms. Some comparison sites describe Cegid's status as provisional, and marketing claims go stale quickly.
2. Check support for Factur-X, UBL and CII, plus receiving invoices (required for every business) and e-reporting for B2C and cross-border sales.
3. If you invoice government bodies, confirm Chorus Pro integration.
4. Ask whether the PA fee is included or extra, since some offers bundle it and others charge per invoice.
5. Note that sources disagree on whether the state's public portal (PPF) remains a usable B2B route after the 2026 Finance Act, so verify that with the tax authority or your vendor.

France has implemented a mandatory electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) and e-reporting system. To comply, businesses must exchange invoices in specific structured formats through government-accredited platforms.

Key Regulatory Requirements

• Mandate Timeline: As of September 1, 2026, all VAT-registered businesses in France must be able to receive electronic invoices. The obligation to issue electronic invoices is phased:
  • Large and Intermediate-sized Enterprises (ETI): Must issue electronic invoices starting September 1, 2026.
  • SMEs and Micro-enterprises: Must issue electronic invoices starting September 1, 2027.
• Approved Platforms (PA): You cannot simply email a PDF. Invoices must be transmitted via a Plateforme Agréée (PA)—a private, government-accredited platform that handles validation, format conversion, and transmission to the tax authority (DGFiP).
  • Note: The government-run portal (PPF) now functions primarily as a central directory and data hub, not as a free invoicing portal for businesses.
• Mandatory Formats: Invoices must be in a structured format compliant with the European standard EN 16931. The three primary accepted formats in France are Factur-X (a hybrid PDF/XML format), UBL, and CII.
• E-Reporting: Transactions that fall outside the e-invoicing scope—such as B2C sales and certain cross-border transactions—are subject to "e-reporting" requirements, which involve transmitting transaction and payment data to the tax authorities.

Choosing Accounting Software

When selecting software, it is critical to distinguish between invoicing tools and compliance-ready platforms. Many accounting solutions integrate with or act as an Approved Platform (PA), but you must verify their certification status.

Features to Look For:

• Native Structured Format Support: Ensure the software natively generates Factur-X, UBL, or CII formats. Do not rely on software that requires you to manually convert files.
• Integrated PA Connectivity: The software should have a direct, seamless connection to an accredited platform. Ideally, it should handle the transmission, validation, and status updates (e.g., "Received," "Rejected") automatically.
• Lifecycle Management: The system must support the required invoice lifecycle statuses (e.g., Déposée, Rejetée, Refusée, Encaissée) as expected by the DGFiP.
• Archiving: French law requires invoice archiving for 10 years. Ensure the software provides compliant, long-term storage.

Software Often Cited for French Compliance:

Several accounting and invoicing tools have developed features specifically for the French mandate. Popular options frequently reviewed for their readiness include:

• Comprehensive Suites: Pennylane, Sellsy, and EBP are widely recognized for their deep integration with French accounting requirements, including Factur-X generation and PA partnerships.
• Solutions for Freelancers/Small Businesses: Axonaut, Tiime, Indy, and Abby are frequently cited as being built with the French micro-entrepreneur and SME market in mind.
• Enterprise/Global Integration: Tools like Esker and Yooz offer robust automation and are often used by larger organizations to manage complex invoice workflows and compliance.

Important Recommendation

Before committing to any software, verify that the vendor is on the official list of Plateformes Agréées (PA) published by the French tax authorities. A common pitfall is purchasing a tool that provides "invoice automation" but lacks the necessary certification to legally transmit data to the DGFiP, which may require you to purchase a secondary compliance connector. Always ask for a demo that specifically shows the flow from your invoice creation to the final transmission through an accredited platform.

For a French company, choose accounting software that either is itself an officially approved platform (plateforme agréée, formerly PDP) or connects to one. A billing or accounting tool alone isn’t enough unless that approved-platform connection is in place. ²⁷

Options to shortlist:

• Pennylane — accounting and invoicing in one system; ask whether the plan you’re considering includes the approved-platform functions your company needs.
• Sage — offers accounting and business software; check that your specific product and setup connect to an approved platform.
• Cegid — a broad accounting/ERP option; confirm the relevant product’s approved-platform status or connection.

These are sensible vendors to evaluate, but the sources available here don’t verify the current approval status of each specific product. Before signing, check the government’s current approved-platform list and ask the vendor to confirm, in writing, how its product handles sending and receiving e-invoices, required invoice data, e-reporting, and integration with your accountant or ERP. ⁴⁶

Key dates: Since 1 September 2026, all in-scope French businesses must be able to receive electronic invoices. Large and intermediate-sized companies must also issue them from that date; SMEs and microbusinesses must issue them from 1 September 2027. ²⁶

The reform covers domestic B2B transactions between French businesses subject to VAT. Ordinary PDFs sent by email won’t meet the new e-invoicing requirements; invoices need to use a compliant structured format and pass through an approved platform. ⁶

If you share your company size, whether you need accounting as well as invoicing, and your existing software, I can narrow down the shortlist.