SII Invoice
Explains Spain's SII invoice system, including requirements, deadlines, and compliance solutions.
Overview
The SII (Suministro Inmediato de Información) is Spain's real-time VAT reporting system, requiring qualifying businesses to submit invoice data electronically to the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) within strict deadlines. It applies to large enterprises, VAT groups, and participants in the monthly VAT refund scheme (REDEME).
Key Requirements
Who Must Comply?
- Companies with annual turnover exceeding €6 million.
- Businesses enrolled in the REDEME monthly VAT refund system.
- Entities under the VAT Grouping Regime.
- Companies can also voluntarily adopt SII.
Submission Deadlines
- Issued invoices: Within 4 calendar days of issuance.
- Received invoices: Within 4 calendar days of accounting entry (always before the 16th of the following month).
- Intra-EU transactions: Within 4 calendar days of shipment or receipt.
Invoice Types Under SII
Spain's SII system categorizes invoices into specific types for sales and purchases. Below are the primary classifications:
Sales Invoices
| Type | Description | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Standard invoice | Normal invoice structure. |
| F2 | Simplified invoice (ticket) | Same as F1 but uses Contraparte, ImporteTotal, and Macrodato nodes. |
| F3 | Replacement invoice | Issued to replace previously filed simplified invoices. |
| F4 | Summary entry | Not fully supported; submissions trigger errors due to missing elements. |
| R1-R5 | Corrected invoices | Not supported for sales; used only for credit memos. |
Purchase Invoices
| Type | Description | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Standard invoice | Normal invoice structure. |
| F2 | Simplified invoice (ticket) | Same as F1 but uses Contraparte, ImporteTotal, and Macrodato nodes. |
| F3 | Replacement invoice | Issued to replace previously filed simplified invoices. |
| F4 | Summary entry | Not fully supported; submissions trigger errors. |
| F5 | Imports (DUA) | Same structure as F1. |
| F6 | Accounting support material | Same structure as F1. |
| R1-R5 | Corrected invoices | Not supported for purchases; used only for credit memos. |
Technical Requirements
- XML Schema: Businesses must generate XML files adhering to AEAT's standardized schemas for each record type (issued/received invoices, intra-community transactions).
- Submission Method: Files are submitted via AEAT's web services or the SII portal.
- Validation: Pre-validation tools are recommended to avoid rejection due to syntactic or semantic errors.
Exemptions and Overlaps
Verifactu Exemption
Companies already using SII are exempt from Verifactu (Spain's upcoming e-invoicing mandate for non-SII businesses) and related SIF (Sistemas Informáticos de Facturación) obligations. This exemption covers most invoice types, except:
- Third-party issued invoices (if not legally mandated).
- Self-billed invoices: Reported under SII's issued invoice records.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
- Late reporting: 0.5% of the reported amount (min. €300, max. €6,000 per quarter).
- Omissions/inaccuracies: Up to 1% of the affected amount (max. €6,000).
Compliance Solutions
Businesses can adopt one of three approaches:
- Native ERP Integration: ERPs with built-in SII modules generate compliant XML files.
- External Solutions: Bolt-on tools that integrate with ERPs to automate XML generation and submission.
- Outsourcing: Full outsourcing to providers managing SII compliance, including XML generation and AEAT submissions.
Key Takeaways
- SII mandates real-time VAT reporting for large Spanish businesses.
- Compliance requires strict adherence to deadlines and XML formatting rules.
- SII users are exempt from Verifactu and other SIF requirements.
- Automated solutions or outsourcing can simplify compliance.