In your editorial comment on 6 September you asked: "Is e-invoicing a government issue?"

The simple answer is that the invoice is not just a commercial document, it is also the key document for VAT, which is very much a government concern. With the best of intentions, the European Commission has legislated to allow the use of electronic invoices for VAT purposes.

Unfortunately, implementations across the community are not uniform and, as a result, there is a lack of interoperability. Overcoming this does not need a new IT system, it needs agreement on standardisation between businesses and commercial providers, and the adoption of  a common approach by the various tax authorities in member states.

This is exactly what the Commission's taskforce - made up of industry specialists - has recommended. It is challenging but achievable, and will bring enormous benefits to business throughout Europe.

Tim Lambertstock
VocaLink