In a few weeks, the first companies will have to forget about issuing physical tickets and start implementing mandatory electronic invoicing. According to the Salvadoran Exporters Association (Coexport), preparations for this transition have already begun. There are still challenges.
Electronic invoices have a structured data format and technical specifications determined by the DGT.
Coexport president Silvia Cuellar noted that the first companies to be mandated would be the largest, and that there is no set date yet for when the full transition to electronic invoicing will take place. He suggested a phased implementation by the Treasury Department.
“Yes, they are preparing, but I think there is still a long way to go,” said Cuellar, ideally giving companies more time to adapt their systems to issuing electronic invoicing. , considers it necessary to analyze each case.
“We’ll look at it on a case-by-case basis and if some companies are ready, then (enforcement) should go ahead,” he said.
Coexport has developed a workshop to educate exporters on e-invoicing. / courtesy
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Mr. Cuellar asserted that the main challenge for the introduction of e-invoicing in the export sector is that all processing that is done with physical receipts will be done with this new mechanism.
Entrepreneurs still question how electronic invoices will work when goods are on the move. “If you were stopped by transport, if you were carrying documents before, what are you going to take with you today?” Mr. Cuellar said.
Findex general manager Nelson Chikas explained that one of the biggest challenges is that the Directorate General of Customs has the same level of knowledge about using electronic invoices as the Ministry of Finance.
Despite the challenges, a union spokesperson reiterated that any new product tends to reveal its impact, further adding that the implementation of a largely paper-free process has reduced the issue of electronic invoicing. pointed out that it is important for this field. This promises to speed up the process.
The company’s president assured that the introduction of e-invoicing to the export sector should not affect the level of shipment of goods.
Reduced costs, streamlined logistics, real-time data and increased tax collection are other benefits that both businesses and governments can take advantage of with the new billing system, Chikas said.
The manager said that fewer than 100 companies currently apply electronic invoicing, accounting for less than 1% of the industry.
It is important to motivate companies not to be left behind and to learn as soon as possible about this mandatory service for everyone.
To meet the needs, Coexport has developed a workshop to report on the daily application of this new system.
“Many questions remain about the environment and we are asking them to transfer all of these to the authorities and develop another workshop,” Cuellar said.
More than six years after the scheme took its first steps in the country, and after the Integrated Bank of the Americas (IDB) approved a $30 million loan in 2016 to improve tax administration, the Treasury Department will It officially launched the pledge in December.
The ministry is in charge of reporting the implementation date to companies, and according to Coexport, it announces individually by email specifying the implementation start month.
Source: Diario.Elmundo
