Key takeaways
- Devis means quotation; facture means invoice; TVA means VAT.
- The rollout separates receiving, issuing and reporting obligations.
- Business category and transaction scope affect the process.
- DocMak does not transmit through French approved platforms.
Check France's electronic-invoicing rollout
The French tax authority states that, within the reform's scope, businesses must be able to receive electronic invoices from 1 September 2026. Large and intermediate-sized businesses begin issuance and related reporting at that stage; issuance and related reporting extends to SMEs and micro-enterprises from 1 September 2027. Consult official guidance for business category, scope and exemptions rather than applying those dates indiscriminately to every sale.
Domestic B2B electronic invoicing and e-reporting for other transactions are distinct. International or consumer customers may involve a different process. Emailing an ordinary PDF should not be assumed to complete either obligation; check impots.gouv.fr guidance and the appropriate approved platform.
Official rollout material reviewed for this resource on 17 October 2026. Recheck current instructions before issuing or reporting a transaction.
EUR consulting example: devis to payment
Fictional example: a Lyon consultant offers two workshops at EUR 450 each and EUR 300 for a written report. The net commercial subtotal is EUR 1,200 before applicable TVA. The devis defines duration, scope, delivery dates and exclusions. The buyer accepts and provides its PO where purchasing requires one.
| Record | Purpose | Keep with the file |
|---|---|---|
| Devis | Offer scope and prices | Acceptance and approved changes |
| PO | Authorise buying | Billing entity and reference |
| Facture | Bill supply | Required particulars and official process |
| Receipt | Confirm funds | Actual amount and payment reference |
Agree deposit treatment and extra sessions before work begins. Retain completion evidence and reconcile payments without charging an advance twice. Suppliers should keep receiving records; a company profile can introduce authentic capabilities and real projects but not unsupported approvals.
Commercial preparation does not replace statutory transmission
Select EUR and replace sample details in DocMak. A VAT identifier and editable rate do not supply French statutory validation, a TVA exemption decision, approved-platform transmission or e-reporting. Review GCC defaults and footer wording. Use quotations and POs for commercial preparation and a suitable invoicing process for statutory output.
Before adopting a facture template, verify mandatory business identifiers and conditional wording with official guidance. Never copy sample tax details or call a PDF compliant because its table looks professional.
Prepare the document, then check before sharing
- Replace sample seller, customer, bank and tax details with verified information.
- Choose the agreed currency before entering amounts and check every displayed currency label.
- Confirm registration and supply treatment before setting tax; do not keep the GCC sample rate by default.
- Review invoice number, supply and issue dates, buyer references, quantities, discounts, rounding and payment due date.
- Preview and review the downloaded document. Use the appropriate invoicing system for mandatory fields or tax treatments the editor cannot express.
DocMak prepares commercial documents, not officially approved local tax invoices. Its invoice editor currently has GCC country presets, a single editable tax rate and VAT-labelled totals. Currency and GST/VAT identifiers alone do not establish compliance. Use an appropriate system wherever additional particulars, structured invoicing or reporting are required. Currency selection does not convert amounts. Creation, downloads and free-account reuse remain subject to existing plan limits.
Frequently asked questions
Is a devis a facture?
No. A devis offers scope and prices; a facture bills a supply. Retain the accepted offer with billing records.
Does DocMak transmit French statutory e-invoices?
No. It does not provide approved-platform transmission or French e-reporting.
Do all French sales follow the same rollout?
No. Verify business category, transaction scope and the distinction between invoicing and e-reporting in official guidance.
Official sources
Check these official pages for the latest requirements before filing or making a compliance decision.