Peppol is infrastructure and a rule set for exchanging electronic business documents, including e-invoices. It is not the same as UBL: UBL describes the XML structure of invoice data, while Peppol adds rules for exchange and the invoice profile used.
UBL and Peppol at a glance
| Question | UBL | Peppol |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | An XML structure for business documents | Infrastructure and rules for exchange |
| What does it solve? | Recording invoice data in machine-readable form | Exchanging e-invoices between sender and recipient |
| Is it accounting software? | No | No |
| Is a PDF the same thing? | No | No |
| SnelUBL's role | Convert source invoices to UBL 2.1 or UBL 2.3 | No claim of full Peppol delivery or profile validation |
When does a business encounter Peppol?
- For e-invoices to Dutch government organizations, where B2G e-invoicing is already required.
- For business invoices in Belgium, where B2B e-invoicing through Peppol has been mandatory since 1 January 2026.
- When a customer or accounting package requests an invoice through Peppol.
- While preparing for the Dutch government's plan for mandatory B2B e-invoicing from 1 July 2030.
Always check the customer's delivery instructions and the capabilities of your accounting package. SnelUBL helps during the transition when suppliers still send PDFs, DOCX files, scans or photos: those source files are converted to UBL and you can review and correct the data.
What SnelUBL does and does not do
SnelUBL creates validated UBL 2.1 and UBL 2.3 XML. Its built-in and free browser validator performs a basic check, but does not claim full EN 16931 or Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 Schematron validation. SnelStart has direct export; for six other supported packages, download the UBL file.
Frequently asked questions
Is Peppol the same as UBL?
No. UBL is the structure of the document; Peppol is the infrastructure and rule set for exchange.
Is Peppol accounting software?
No. Your accounting package may support Peppol, but Peppol itself is not accounting software.
Is Peppol mandatory in the Netherlands?
E-invoicing to Dutch government organizations is already required. The Dutch government plans mandatory B2B e-invoicing from 1 July 2030, but the law has not yet been enacted.
Is Peppol mandatory in Belgium?
Yes. B2B e-invoicing through Peppol has been mandatory in Belgium since 1 January 2026.
Does SnelUBL create Peppol invoices?
SnelUBL creates UBL 2.1 and UBL 2.3. Separately check the Peppol profile and delivery requirements that apply to your recipient.
Can I use a PDF when my supplier does not yet send an e-invoice?
Yes. SnelUBL converts PDF, DOCX and image invoices to UBL, reducing manual retyping.
Read next: UBL versions and Peppol BIS, e-invoicing in Belgium and the Dutch 2030 plan.
Last updated: 2 October 2026.