As part of its ongoing efforts to streamline financial processes and enhance tax compliance, Bolivia implemented an electronic invoicing model in 2019. With a history of previous attempts at establishing a mandatory system, the National Tax Service (Servicio de Impuestos Nacionales, or SIN for short) has been working to overcome infrastructure challenges and create a more efficient invoicing environment.
Let’s take a look at the South American country’s progress so far.
Legal background
Bolivia's electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) journey began in 2007 with the introduction of the New Invoicing System (NSF-07) through resolution RND 10-0016-07.
Over the years, several modifications were made, leading to the implementation of the final Virtual Invoicing System (SFV) on the 1st of January 2016. The legal basis for e-invoicing can be found in the country’s Resolution Board of Directors Regulation No. 101800000026 from the 20th of November 2018.
Bolivia’s electronic invoicing mandate
Just like many countries around the globe, Bolivia has introduced mandatory e-invoicing regulations in stages:
- 1st of December 2021 - Resolution RND 10210000012 mandated large taxpayers (known locally as PRICOS) and others explicitly mentioned in Resolution 1021000017, to comply
- 1st of April 2022 - Resolution RND 102100000019 included a second list of taxpayers
- 1st of December 2022 - Resolution RND 102200000010 defined the scope for the third group of taxpayers
- 1st of February 2024 (postponed from the initial date of the 1st of April 2023) - The fourth group of taxpayers, as per Resolution RND 102300000004, was set to start issuing electronic invoices
- 1st of March 2024 (postponed from the initial date of the 1st of August 2023) - A fifth group of taxpayers was included in the scope of the mandate, as per Resolution RND 102300000019
- 1st of April 2024 (postponed from the initially announced date of 1st of September 2023) - Resolution RND 102300000020 mandated the 6th group of taxpayers
- 1st of July 2024 - Resolution RND 102400000002 includes the 7th group of taxpayers
- 1st of October 2024 - The eighth group of taxpayers was mandated with Resolution RND 102400000003
- 1st of December 2024 - The ninth group of taxpayers was announced with Resolution RND 102400000004
- 1st of February 2025 - Resolution RND 102400000005 mandates the tenth group of taxpayers to comply
- 1st of February 2025 - Resolution RND 102400000012 announces the requirement for the eleventh group of taxpayers to comply
SIN has created an online resource which asks for a taxpayer’s identification number (Número de Identificación Tributaria, or NIT), to help them identify which e-invoicing group they belong to.
The technical details
E-invoicing formats
The e-invoicing format in Bolivia follows XML 1.0 UTF-8 standards. Each document type varies based on the economic sector, and the format can be validated using XSD schema files provided by the National Tax Service (SIN).
The system covers a wide range of document types, including standard invoices, credit-debit notes, fiscal notes and more.
Certification process
To ensure compliance, mandated taxpayers undergo a mandatory certification process in a test environment. This process enables testing, adjustments and error corrections before obtaining a certificate of successful testing. Once certified, taxpayers can use the production environment by obtaining unique system initialisation codes (CUIS) and daily invoicing codes (CUFD).
Digital certificate and signature
Electronic tax documents must be electronically signed using digital certificates issued by the Agency for the Development of the Information Society Development in Bolivia (ADSIB). This digital signature ensures the integrity and authenticity of the documents.
Validation and exchange
Online validation of documents is carried out with the National Tax Service (SIN).
Taxpayers request a unique daily invoice code (CUFD) and generate documents in XML format with a digital signature. These documents are sent to SIN to obtain receipt codes. The use of a graphical representation, including a mandatory QR code, facilitates the exchange of documents between taxpayers. Companies receiving electronic tax documents can automatically validate them on the SIN platform, ensuring their tax validity.
What mandatory e-invoicing means for Bolivian businesses
Bolivia’s implementation of e-invoicing mandates creates numerous benefits for both taxpayers and the tax authority.
For the tax authority, increased visibility of tax submissions and tax claims is a great benefit of mandatory electronic invoicing. Around the globe, billions are lost each year through fraudulent VAT claims - a decreasing number since the introduction of mandatory e-invoicing regulations.
And what about the benefits for businesses? E-invoicing helps streamline financial processes. With the right automated and digital solutions in place, businesses can reduce their manual financial supply-chain tasks and enjoy automated workflows, structured data and cash flow insights at their fingertips.
Overall, electronic invoicing transitions countries towards more digitalised ways of working which creates more efficiency for all involved. Understanding the requirements and embracing e-invoicing solutions will enable businesses to comply with the regulations and unlock the advantages of this digital transformation.
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