Belgium will deactivate the Hermes e-invoicing platform on 31 December 2025. From January 2026, all B2B invoices must be exchanged electronically via Peppol or another compliant solution. Organisations that still rely on Hermes should prepare to transition now to avoid operational disruption.
The end of Hermes
The Belgian government has confirmed that the Hermes platform will be discontinued on 31 December 2025. Hermes was introduced as a temporary fallback for suppliers without a connection to a secure e-invoicing network. With the introduction of Belgium’s mandatory B2B e-invoicing framework in 2026, this fallback system is no longer needed.
From 2026 onwards, all structured invoices must be exchanged through Peppol or an equivalent, compliant network. This ensures interoperability, verified sender identities and alignment with the European e-invoicing standard (EN 16931).
Key deadlines to keep in mind
- 31 December 2025 – Hermes will be fully deactivated
- January 2026 – Mandatory B2B e-invoicing begins in Belgium
- March 2026 – Archived Hermes data remains accessible until this date
What businesses should do now
Companies still relying on Hermes will need to switch to an alternative solution before the deadline. Recommended next steps include:
- Confirm Peppol readiness
Check whether your ERP or finance system already supports Peppol-based invoicing. - Test integrations and data flows
Conduct end-to-end testing to ensure invoices meet EN 16931 requirements and flow correctly through the Peppol network. - Align internal stakeholders
Ensure finance, IT and procurement teams are aware of the new requirements and aligned on timelines. - Select a certified provider if needed
Peppol service providers can onboard organisations without requiring custom development.
For more information on Belgium’s upcoming mandate, review our updates on the 2026 B2B e-invoicing requirements, a detailed overview of what needs to be done, and the official resources on the Peppol network.
Key takeaways
- Belgian companies must switch to a new e-invoicing solution before January 2026
- Hermes will no longer be available after 31 December 2025
- Archived data from Hermes will remain accessible until March 2026
- The Belgian government expects businesses to rely on private providers and Peppol connectivity going forward
Frequently asked
Hermes was introduced as a temporary fallback for suppliers that were not yet connected to a compliant e-invoicing network. With the upcoming 2026 B2B mandate, Belgium no longer requires a parallel system. Hermes will therefore be deactivated so that all traffic moves to modern, interoperable channels such as Peppol.
Yes. From January 2026 onwards, Belgian businesses are expected to exchange B2B invoices electronically through Peppol or an equivalent compliant channel. Peppol is currently the preferred infrastructure because it offers interoperability, verified identities and alignment with EU e-invoicing standards.
After this date, suppliers will no longer be able to submit invoices via Hermes. Companies must migrate to Peppol or another compliant solution before year-end to avoid disruption in January 2026.
Not necessarily. Many organisations use certified providers that offer direct Peppol connectivity without custom development. The complexity depends on your current ERP or finance system and how automated your invoicing process is.
Migrating early gives organisations time to test integrations, adapt internal processes, and ensure compliance with the upcoming B2B mandate. It also reduces risk during year-end transitions, when invoice volumes and deadlines are typically higher.
Peppol supports multiple structured document types, including orders, credit notes and catalogue messages. For many organisations, adopting Peppol improves supply-chain automation beyond invoicing alone.
Key steps include validating your invoicing flows, confirming your Peppol connection, mapping invoice data to EN-compliant formats, and aligning internal stakeholders (finance, IT, procurement). Most providers offer onboarding checklists to accelerate this process.
