New Zealand: e-Invoicing to Become Standard for B2G Transactions by 2026

The New Zealand government has introduced updated Procurement Rules to promote faster payment processing for small businesses and accelerate the adoption of e-invoicing among government agencies and enterprises.

Key Requirements Effective January 1, 2026

Under the new rules, government agencies must meet the following obligations:

• E-Invoicing Sending Capabilities: Agencies issuing over 2,000 domestic trade invoices annually must implement systems to send e-invoices.
• E-Invoicing Receiving Capabilities: Agencies receiving more than 2,000 domestic trade invoices per year are required to adopt e-invoice receiving capabilities.
• Payment Deadlines:
  • Ensure that 95% of e-invoices for domestic trade are paid within 5 business days and report payment data to the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE), which also serves as New Zealand's Peppol Authority.
  • Pay all other invoices within 10 business days, a requirement effective from January 1, 2025.

Implications for Businesses

Businesses working with government agencies should prepare for e-invoicing to become the standard process. Additionally, the new rules offer financial benefits by ensuring faster payment cycles for e-invoices submitted to government organizations.

Future Developments

The government is also planning to consult businesses on a potential new rule requiring specific suppliers to submit e-invoices. The outcome of this consultation will be presented to the Cabinet in February 2025.

There’s more you should know about e-invoicing in New Zealand – learn more about the new and upcoming regulations.