VERI*FACTU: what has been announced and what to check before changing your software

If you run a small business, you have probably received more than one warning about VERI*FACTU. One supplier tells you to change software immediately. Another talks about new deadlines. Your accountant advises caution. And you still need to issue invoices while working out who is talking about a requirement and who is talking about a proposal.

My recommendation is to separate those two things before signing up for anything. An announcement from Spain’s Ministry of Finance deserves attention, but the date that applies to your business must be checked against the legislation in force and your particular circumstances. Buying out of fear does not improve that analysis.

What was announced in October

On 5 October 2026, Spain’s Ministry of Finance published a statement about a proposed change to the deadlines for outstanding obligations under the Regulation on invoicing software systems. The statement proposes aligning the timetable with electronic invoicing and mentions October 2028. It describes an alignment that is still awaiting approval. That condition matters just as much as the date.

The official AEAT page on SIF and VERI*FACTU carries the statement and links to legislation, frequently asked questions and technical documentation. It is the right starting point for checking developments. This article offers a way to organise that review; it does not determine the tax requirements that apply to your case.

Three questions to ask separately

The first is which invoicing obligations apply to your activity. The second is whether the system you use falls within the scope of the regulation. The third is which date and requirements apply when an amendment is approved. Answering one does not automatically answer the other two.

It is also worth distinguishing the requirements for the software you use to issue invoices from electronic invoicing itself. These are related issues, but they are not interchangeable. A statement seeking to bring them into line does not put every tool, business and obligation into a single category.

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What I would ask the software supplier

I would ask for a written explanation of the planned changes, their cost, the features included and how they will affect existing data. If the supplier suggests moving to another plan, I would ask which specific need makes that necessary and which elements are optional improvements.

I would also review data exports. You need to know how to retrieve customer records, invoices and documents, who can do it and what happens if you leave the service. Being able to download a customer list is not the same as being able to reconstruct all the information you need.

This is not about distrusting every supplier. It is about comparing proposals using the same questions. A clear answer about scope and timing is worth more than a countdown on a website.

What you can improve even if the timetable changes

Some tasks do not depend on a new deadline: organising documents, avoiding repeated data entry, deciding who checks an invoice and agreeing how documents reach your accountant. If you waste time gathering files today, you can examine that process without using a future obligation as the argument.

Imagine a repair workshop that sends in its documents every month. Its invoices are in the software, supporting documents are in email and other files are in a folder. The first useful project might be to organise incoming documents and identify what is missing. This is a hypothetical example: the saving will depend on volume and the current way of working.

Invoices must still be issued through the appropriate software and process. An automation can prepare data or coordinate tasks without thereby becoming a compliant invoicing system. That distinction must be clear in any technical proposal.

What I would not decide on the basis of a headline

I would not assume that every self-employed person has the same deadline. I would not treat a press release as though it could, by itself, replace a published legal provision. And I would not buy a tool simply because someone announces that “later will be too late”.

If you already have software that works, ask what changes it needs. If you work with an accounting practice, make a list of how you issue and store your documents. If you are going to implement another system, insist on a test using your everyday transactions and a migration proposal.

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A practical decision for this week

Gather the name of the software you use, your contract or subscription plan and a brief description of how you issue invoices. Then ask your supplier and accountant to clarify scope, adaptation and timing. Note the date of their response and the legislative source supporting it.

Next, compare what you need for compliance with what would help you work better. They may overlap, but you do not need to mix them up to make a decision.

Technology should help you run your business with greater clarity. If selling you software requires you to confuse a proposal with an approved obligation, part of the explanation is missing.

Statement from Spain’s Ministry of Finance, 5 October 2026.

Documentary review: 2 November 2026. Before publishing or making a decision, check whether any subsequent provisions have been issued.

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