Nuremberg, July 17, 2026
The Nuremberg-based IT service provider Datev has called on companies in Germany to significantly accelerate their preparations for the upcoming e-invoicing mandate.
The head of the software company, Robert Mayr, delivered a sober assessment of the state of the transition when presenting the half-year figures. Although the number of processed e-invoices is growing significantly, the share of total invoicing volume remains low. "Unsere erfreulichen Wachstumsraten dürfen aber nicht darüber hinwegtäuschen, dass das immer noch ein geringer Anteil am gesamten Rechnungsaufkommen ist", Mayr said.
Growth in e-invoices
In the first half of 2026, Datev processed more than 51 million e-invoices through its systems, according to the company. In the full year 2025, the figure was around 64 million. In the first half of the previous year, the company increased its revenue to 810.2 million euros. Since the beginning of 2026, the customer base has grown by around 80,000 to now over one million.
Datev is the market leader in software for tax advisors in Germany, according to the company. It sees itself at an interface where the transition to electronic invoices needs to be bundled for many medium-sized businesses. Mayr called on companies to stop postponing the issue.
Deadlines of the e-invoicing mandate
Since January 1, 2025, companies in Germany have been required to be able to receive structured e-invoices. From January 1, 2027, companies with annual revenue of at least 800,000 euros must send e-invoices themselves. By 2028 at the latest, the mandate is to apply to all B2B invoices, with the introduction staggered according to company size.
Structured e-invoices differ from merely electronic documents such as PDF files because they are machine-readable and can be processed directly into accounting systems. "Dabei lassen sich digitale Rechnungsdaten leichter prüfen und Unstimmigkeiten schneller erkennen", Mayr explained. The transition is therefore not just a mandate, but also offers tangible benefits for auditing.
Burden on the mid-market
Mayr acknowledged that the e-invoicing mandate in Germany is often perceived as an additional burden, especially for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. "In Deutschland werde die E-Rechnungspflicht oft als zusätzliche Belastung wahrgenommen, vor allem für Kleinst-, kleinere und mittlere Unternehmen", he said. At the same time, he stressed that the issue is still not a focus for a large proportion, especially of smaller mid-market companies.
The Datev chief pointed out that the mandate is not abstract, but has a direct impact on processes in accounting firms and bookkeeping departments. Those who do not adapt their processes in time must expect bottlenecks in document processing. The upcoming deadlines leave little buffer, he warned.
Given the growing customer numbers and the rising number of processed e-invoices, Datev considers itself technically prepared. At the same time, the success of the transition depends, in the company's view, on users in businesses adapting their internal processes. Datev wants to support with information and consulting on the upcoming obligations, it said.
The half-year figures are based on Datev's own surveys, according to the company. The report is based on a message from the dpa news channel.
Looking ahead to the next steps, Mayr called on companies to view the transition as a strategic issue. Those who invest now will secure competitive advantages and at the same time reduce the risk of bottlenecks at the upcoming deadlines.
The e-invoicing mandate is part of a broader digitalization push in the European economy. Comparable regulations already exist in several EU member states. Mayr signaled that Datev will continue to closely support German mid-market companies in adapting to these standards.