Electronic invoicing for a fee: the FFB denounces an additional burden for building tradespeople

Aurore Clavelou is the administrative and commercial manager of a roofing and zincwork company with 5 employees. The craft business, located in Gennevilliers, was created in 2010 and uses electronic invoicing (sending invoices and reminders by email). In order to anticipate future regulatory obligations, the company will begin to gradually integrate electronic invoicing via a partner dematerialization platform imposed by the State by the first quarter of 1. "This will require our customers to retrieve the invoice on the platform, rather than receiving it directly by email as we used to do," she adds.

The use of a private paid platform for electronic invoicing, announced by the government, would be a new burden for VSEs and SMEs in the construction industry. The FFB Grand Paris Ile-de-France and the FFB Artisans are therefore calling on the public authorities to keep electronic invoicing free of charge. "A paid solution would increase our operational costs, especially if fees are applied to each invoice issued". Individual customers, who are not very familiar with the exercise, risk being the most impacted. "It is the administration that, in order to fight VAT fraud more effectively, imposes these new control steps. We understand this approach, however we regret that once again the cost is borne by companies that are mostly virtuous. It is complicated for us to change our invoicing process (cost of software, training and adaptation). At the very least, this constrained platform should remain free for companies" adds Aurore Clavelou.

Furthermore, the craftsmen have barely gotten used to Chorus Pro and the system has already been modified, which is now chargeable and finally probably entrusted to private operators who cannot guarantee software compatibility... "All these uncertainties do not allow us to project the real costs that we will have to incur and which will once again impact our low margins" explains Aurore Clavelou.

The FFB Artisans remains vigilant on the subject and its legal services are listening to all its members to advise them in the different stages of this new constraint.