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Core Concepts

Core Concepts

Core Concepts

This section covers the fundamental concepts you need to understand to work with the e-invoice.be API effectively.

Document Types

The API supports two main document types:

  1. Invoices

    • Standard business invoices
    • Must comply with Peppol BIS Billing 3.0
    • Can be sent and received

  2. Credit Notes

    • Used to correct or cancel invoices
    • Follow the same format as invoices
    • Must reference the original invoice

Document States

Documents go through various states during their lifecycle:

  • DRAFT: Initial state when created
  • TRANSIT: Being sent through the Peppol network
  • SENT: Successfully delivered to recipient
  • RECEIVED: Successfully received from sender
  • FAILED: Failed to send or receive

Document Direction

Documents can flow in two directions:

  • OUTBOUND: Documents you send to others
  • INBOUND: Documents you receive from others

Peppol Network

The Peppol network is a secure, international network for e-document exchange. Key concepts:

  • Access Points: Entry points to the network
  • Peppol IDs: Unique identifiers for businesses
  • Document Types: Standardized formats (BIS Billing 3.0)
  • Transport: AS2 or AS4 protocols

Next Steps