Regarding electronic invoices, what are the differences and advantages compared with ordinary invoices?

    1. What is an electronic invoice?

    An electronic invoice refers to a payment/receipt voucher issued and received in electronic form for the purchase and sale of goods, the provision or acceptance of services, and other business activities. After the customer requests one, our company still needs to issue it manually. The system generates an image; after generation, an email will be sent to the email address provided by the customer. The customer can download and print it from the email, and can also download it from the invoice query section in the management center. This takes about two to three working days.

    2. When did full implementation begin?

    The Announcement of the State Taxation Administration on Issues Concerning the Implementation of VAT Electronic Ordinary Invoices Issued Through the VAT Electronic Invoice System (State Taxation Administration Announcement No. 84 of 2015) clarified that, starting from December 1, 2015, VAT electronic ordinary invoices issued through the VAT electronic invoice system would be implemented nationwide.

    3. What is the difference from paper invoices?

    Electronic invoices break through the concept of traditional paper invoices; they use electronic signatures to achieve invoice signing and electronic sealing, realizing the uniqueness, non-repudiation, and tamper resistance of electronic invoices; they transmit and store invoice content in digital media form, and can transmit it to the recipient via the Internet, mobile communications, and other means.

    4. Do they have the same effect as traditional paper invoices?

    The legal effect, basic purpose, basic usage rules, etc. of electronic invoices are the same as those of VAT ordinary invoices supervised by tax authorities. Consumers can use them to safeguard their rights or for reimbursement; recipient enterprises can use them as formal accounting vouchers for bookkeeping.

    5. Is a printed black-and-white electronic invoice valid?

    The issuer and recipient may choose paper to print (in color or black and white) the layout file of the electronic invoice. Its legal effect, basic purpose, basic usage rules, etc. are the same as those of VAT ordinary invoices supervised by tax authorities. Electronic invoices can be printed and used respectively as invoice copies, bookkeeping copies, and other vouchers.

Therefore, for the recipient, electronic invoices have incomparable advantages over traditional paper invoices

　　1. Obtain and verify the electronic invoice at the same time as the transaction, reducing the risk of receiving a fake invoice.  

　　2. It is convenient to save and use invoices. You can log in to the service platform at any time to query and download invoice information that has been electronically signed.  

　　3. Invoices can be printed whenever needed, with no restrictions on printer or paper and no limit on the number of prints. You no longer need to worry that losing an invoice will affect your rights protection or reimbursement.  

　　4. They can be reimbursed and entered into accounts, eliminating the process of entering traditional paper vouchers into accounts and improving the work efficiency of the financial personnel of the recipient enterprise.