Despite the fact that Peru was one of the last countries in the region to start using the electronic invoice, it is one the Latin American nations that made the fastest progress in such sector, having issued over a million documents through the Electronic Issuance System (SEE) so far, according to the National Customs and Tax Administration (Sunat).
Sunat’s boost to the electronic proof of purchase was crucial for such progress.
“Even though the electronic invoice in Peru is legal since 2000, its use is mandatory since October 2014. Governments usually encourage its use to improve fiscal control and reduce fraud,” said Carlos Velamazan, Director at Unidad de Negocio de América de Seres.
The experience of countries that have been using it for years shows electronic invoice offers a number of advantages to firms, such as cost reduction, improved business, payment and collection management, and the possibility to access new financing sources.
In January this year, Sunat gave new impetus to the use of electronic invoice in order to integrate a group of firms under such duty.
“So far, the regulation has forced a total of 5,970 Peruvian companies, in addition to other 20,000, that voluntarily accepted to use the electronic format,” he said.
A change in the decisions of firms has been observed as electronic invoice became operational across the country; at first, businessmen believe this is a technological change.
“But it actually requires maintenance and leads to a transformation regarding companies and their partners. In this sense, the best solution is to use a service able to resolve any kind of difficulty, comply with regulations and laws, and even, operate mixed solutions requiring paper invoices and electronic support,” he added.
(END) JCC/JCC/RMB/MVB
Published: 5/10/2016