🇦🇹 Austria E-Invoicing — ebInterface
Austria was one of the first countries in Europe to mandate electronic invoicing for government suppliers, requiring structured e-invoices for all B2G transactions since January 1, 2014. The country developed its own national standard, ebInterface, tailored to Austrian business and tax requirements, and later added support for Peppol BIS 3.0 to facilitate cross-border interoperability.
Austria's centralized e-invoicing platform, the Unternehmensserviceportal (USP), serves as the single submission point for government invoices. Whether you are an Austrian business or an international supplier, understanding the dual-format landscape and the USP portal is critical for compliance.
Key Facts
- B2G Mandate: Mandatory since January 1, 2014
- Primary Formats: ebInterface 6.0 (Austrian national standard) and Peppol BIS Billing 3.0
- Submission Platform: USP (Unternehmensserviceportal)
- B2B Mandate: No mandate yet — voluntary adoption
- Governing Body: BMF (Bundesministerium fur Finanzen / Federal Ministry of Finance)
- VAT Rate: 20% standard, 13% and 10% reduced
Timeline of E-Invoicing in Austria
2004–2010 — ebInterface Development
Austria develops the ebInterface standard through a collaboration between the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), the Federal Ministry of Finance, and technology partners. The standard is designed specifically to meet Austrian tax law requirements and business practices, with support for structured XML invoicing.
January 1, 2014 — B2G Mandate Takes Effect
Austria becomes one of the earliest EU member states to mandate e-invoicing for government suppliers. All invoices to federal government entities must be submitted electronically through the USP portal in ebInterface format. This mandate applies to all suppliers regardless of size or country of origin.
2019 — Peppol Support Added
In compliance with EU Directive 2014/55/EU, Austria adds Peppol BIS 3.0 as an accepted format for B2G invoicing alongside ebInterface. This enables international suppliers to use the pan-European Peppol standard rather than implementing the Austria-specific ebInterface format, significantly easing cross-border trade.
2020–2025 — B2B Voluntary Adoption
While no B2B mandate exists, Austrian businesses increasingly adopt e-invoicing for efficiency. ERP vendors and accounting software providers build native support for both ebInterface and Peppol, making electronic invoicing accessible to small and medium enterprises.
2028+ — EU ViDA Compliance
Austria will align with the EU's VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) initiative, which will mandate structured e-invoicing for intra-EU B2B transactions and introduce digital reporting. Austria's existing infrastructure positions it well for this transition.
Who Is Affected?
B2G (Business-to-Government)
Since 2014, all suppliers to Austrian federal government entities must submit structured electronic invoices. This is one of the longest-standing B2G e-invoicing mandates in Europe. Invoices must be submitted through the USP (Unternehmensserviceportal), Austria's centralized business services portal. The mandate covers all federal ministries, agencies, and affiliated public bodies. Some Austrian states and municipalities have also adopted the requirement.
B2B (Business-to-Business)
There is currently no legal requirement for B2B e-invoicing in Austria. However, voluntary adoption is growing, particularly among larger enterprises and companies that already use the Peppol network for government invoicing. The upcoming EU ViDA directive is expected to eventually extend structured e-invoicing requirements to B2B transactions.
B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
E-invoicing to consumers is not mandated in Austria. Consumer invoices follow standard Austrian tax law requirements and can be issued in any format, including paper and PDF.
Accepted E-Invoice Formats
ebInterface 6.0 (Austrian National Standard)
ebInterface is Austria's home-grown XML-based e-invoicing standard. Version 6.0 is the current release, offering comprehensive support for Austrian tax requirements including reverse charge mechanisms, VAT exemptions, and Austrian-specific payment references. ebInterface invoices are validated against a published XML Schema (XSD) and must include all mandatory fields defined by Austrian law.
Peppol BIS Billing 3.0
Since 2019, Austrian government entities also accept Peppol BIS 3.0 invoices. This is especially useful for international suppliers who may already have Peppol connectivity and prefer not to implement the Austria-specific ebInterface format. Peppol invoices are based on UBL 2.1 and follow the standard European validation rules.
For businesses also operating in Germany, the XRechnung format is a closely related Peppol-compatible standard. The hybrid ZUGFeRD and Factur-X formats, which embed XML data within PDF files, can also be relevant for Austrian-German trade corridors.
The USP Portal
The Unternehmensserviceportal (USP) is Austria's central e-government platform for business interactions with federal authorities. For e-invoicing, the USP provides:
- Web Upload: Manual submission of ebInterface or Peppol XML files through the USP web interface.
- Web Service API: Automated submission via SOAP/REST interfaces for integration with ERP and accounting systems.
- Peppol Access Point: Direct delivery via the Peppol network to the Austrian government's Peppol endpoint.
- Validation: Real-time validation of submitted invoices against the relevant schema (ebInterface or Peppol) before acceptance.
Suppliers must register on the USP and authenticate using the Austrian electronic identity system (Handy-Signatur or ID Austria) or a business certificate.
Cross-Border E-Invoicing with Austria
International suppliers invoicing Austrian government entities have two options: implement ebInterface 6.0 for the Austrian-specific format, or use Peppol BIS 3.0 for a standardized European approach. For businesses already trading with other Peppol-connected countries like Sweden, Finland, or Luxembourg, the Peppol route is the most efficient path to compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use ebInterface or can I use Peppol for Austrian government invoices?
Both formats are accepted. Austrian government entities have been required to accept Peppol BIS 3.0 since 2019, in addition to the original ebInterface format. If you already have Peppol connectivity (for example, from invoicing other European governments), you can use Peppol BIS 3.0 for Austria as well. If you only invoice Austrian entities, ebInterface 6.0 remains fully supported.
How do I submit invoices to Austrian government agencies?
All B2G invoices must be submitted through the USP (Unternehmensserviceportal). You can upload invoices manually through the web portal, send them via the USP web service API, or deliver them through the Peppol network to the government's Peppol Access Point. Registration on the USP with appropriate authentication is required.
Is B2B e-invoicing mandatory in Austria?
No. As of 2026, there is no B2B e-invoicing mandate in Austria. B2B electronic invoicing is entirely voluntary. However, the EU's ViDA directive is expected to introduce requirements for structured e-invoicing in intra-EU B2B transactions from 2028 onward, which will affect Austrian businesses engaged in cross-border trade.
Can I convert a PDF invoice to ebInterface or Peppol format for Austria?
Yes. If you have existing PDF invoices, you can extract the invoice data and convert it to either ebInterface 6.0 or Peppol BIS 3.0 XML. InvoicePeppol uses AI-powered extraction to read your PDF invoices and generate compliant structured XML that can be submitted through the USP portal or the Peppol network.
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