Sectors still behind on Peppol, and how to catch up
Agriculture, retail, nonprofits: some sectors showed under 1% Peppol adoption in autumn 2025. Why they fell behind and how to get compliant in minutes.
· Updated: · Reading time: 4 min
The Peppol reform has been a broad success, but not for everyone. Some sectors showed alarming delays as the January 1st, 2026 deadline approached. Three years on, those same sectors remain the most exposed to penalties. A sector overview and practical solutions.
The most behind sectors: the numbers
While large companies and digital sectors reached early adoption rates of 10 to 13%, some sectors were still stuck around 1% in autumn 2025 according to field analysis:
- Agriculture and farming: limited digital equipment, deeply rooted paper habits
- Independent retail: mostly B2C invoicing, limited awareness of the B2B obligation
- Associations and nonprofits: confusion about scope depending on VAT status
- Article 44 VAT-exempt liberal professions: misinterpretation of who is in scope
Why these sectors fell behind
The main barrier is not technical. It is a lack of information and support. Large companies had IT teams and in-house accountants who drove the transition. Small structures in these sectors depend on external accountants, and not all accountants communicated the reform in time.
Important clarification: professions exempt from VAT under Article 44 of the Belgian VAT Code (general practitioners, dentists, psychologists, physiotherapists...) are NOT subject to the Peppol obligation for their exempt activities. If in doubt, consult your accountant.
The case of associations
Nonprofits are in a complex position. If they carry out VAT-liable activities, they are subject to the obligation like any business. If all their activities are VAT-exempt, they are not required to issue Peppol invoices, but they must still be able to receive Peppol invoices from VAT-liable suppliers from 2026 onward.
How to catch up quickly
Good news for late adopters: PepperHub lets you become compliant in under 5 minutes. No complex setup, no technical training, no commitment. Registration takes 2 minutes with your company number, and your first invoice can be sent right away.
Every additional week of delay exposes your business to graduated penalties. Regularizing today costs EUR 1 per document. Remaining non-compliant can cost up to EUR 5,000 per audit.
- Step 1 (5 min): create your account on pepperhub.eu with your company number
- Step 2 (10 min): send a test invoice to a client or supplier already registered
- Step 3: gradually extend to all your B2B transactions