2024-03-08 20:50:06
03:36 PM
La Dian warned that 2024 is the year of the end of paper receipts with the aim of establishing the electronic invoice as the only valid medium in commercial transactions.
The electronic invoice has been present on the agenda of Colombian companies since 1995, when it was equated as a sales document to the paper invoice; However, it was only until 2018 that a first group of large taxpayers was forced to invoice electronically through Resolution No. 000072. Today, the electronic invoice seeks to position itself as the only valid receipt to legally support transactions in any type of commerce. .
Following the promulgation of Resolution No. 000165, which requires all taxpayers to invoice electronically and in a staggered manner starting on May 1, 2024, a large number of businesses have expressed their concern regarding the possibility of not being able to adapt to the new obligation.
In this context, a study of the accounting and billing platform for micro, small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs), Alegra.com analyzed the reality of electronic invoicing in the country.
According to the report “Technological Evolution: Electronic Billing and its Adoption in Latin America” the number of taxpayers adhering to this billing method has grown exponentially in recent years. Between 2019 and 2024, it increased by 2,340% and today more than 1,100,000 companies issue electronic receipts daily.
Andrés Torres, Compliance Leader at Alegra.com, explained that “in recent years taxpayers, especially MSMEs, have recognized the advantages that electronic invoicing presents, not only to comply with their tax obligations, but also for better business management.”
Although the levels of adhesion are positive, the survey shows that in the last visits that Dian has made to businesses in the country, 65% of them present irregularities when issuing electronic receipts. Faced with this, Torres mentioned that “issuing an electronic invoice without irregularities is not only the responsibility of merchants. Well, having a billing system that is kept up to date with the regulations is the first step to comply with Dian.”
According to the platform, 70% of taxpayers invoice through an authorized provider; and in Colombia there are 88 suppliers. Torres concluded by highlighting “the path to the total adoption of electronic invoices is a joint process that involves taxpayers, Dian and suppliers.”
In this context, it is clear that as of May 1, the deadline for those responsible for generating and transmitting physical invoices to do so electronically will begin to expire, according to the new Dian Resolution.
From the perspective of Jarbin Rodríguez, training and excellence manager at Siigo Latam, the implementation of the new model in the country will, for example, streamline accounting processes and reduce the margin of error in companies.
He specified that the invoice is the commercial document that reflects the information regarding the purchase or sale of a specific service. For this reason, all natural or legal persons dedicated to commerce must issue the invoice or the equivalent document, unless they are excluded by the Tax Statute. Such is the case of financial corporations, savings and housing corporations, among others.
Historically, invoices have been issued through cash register machines with POS (ticket) systems and other equivalents to the physical invoice. This document was delivered to the buyer immediately in most commercial establishments. However, Dian has decided that this procedure will change.
The deadlines for the implementation of the new electronic POS must occur between May 1 and November 1 of this year, according to the classification of the taxpayer or the type of equivalent document.
Thus, on May 1st it will apply to large taxpayers who are electronic billers and issue machine tickets with a POS system to support their sales. On June 1st, income tax filers who are not large taxpayers.
On July 1st it will cover those who do not file income tax and who are not large taxpayers either. And from August 1st to November 1st, all documents that Dian considers as invoices must migrate to an electronic version.
Rodríguez insisted that the change will be very useful for business owners because, “as it is an automated system, the margin of error decreases by almost 80% compared to the traditional billing method.” In addition, he stated that this mechanism will help control inventories.
Another of the great points in favor, according to Rodríguez, is that the POS system will allow “consolidating information on all transactions and crossing them with the accounting closings”, in order to have meticulous control of the commercial activities in the organizations.
The use of accounting software is increasingly common among small and large companies. Thanks to the multiple tools they offer and the affordable prices, businessmen or entrepreneurs can keep their finances up to date and comply with all tax obligations.
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