Keeping invoices: how long and how
Sending an invoice is only half the work. You also have to keep it, for your accounts, your VAT and a possible inspection.
How long must you keep invoices?
For businesses in Belgium the retention period for invoices is usually 10 years, both for invoices you issue and for those you receive. A different period may apply to other accounting records. Ask your accountant what applies to your situation.
In what form do you keep them?
- An electronic invoice, for example via Peppol, is kept electronically. Do not print it and throw the original away: the electronic version is the invoice.
- Make sure it stays readable and unaltered, and that you can find it quickly, for example by invoice number or client.
- Also keep the credit notes and the invoices you receive from suppliers.
What if you stop using your software?
A program is not an eternal archive. So download a copy of your data regularly and keep it yourself outside the program too, for example on your own computer or with your accountant.
How it works in Faktuno
- All your sent and received invoices stay in Faktuno as long as your account is active.
- Under Account → Download backup you can download all your data at any time. Do it regularly and keep that copy yourself too.
- Your accountant can also get the invoices directly: once you enter your accountant’s email address and turn on automatic sending, they receive a package every month.
- If you cancel your subscription, you can still log in for 30 days to download everything.
- Faktuno is an invoicing program, not an archiving service. The duty to keep records stays with you.
More help
- E-invoicing mandatory since 2026
- Sending a Peppol invoice
- Client not on Peppol
- Receiving Peppol invoices
- Reverse charge on your invoice
- Small business exemption scheme
- Structured payment reference
- Switching Peppol provider
- Finding a Peppol ID
- Credit note via Peppol
- What must be on an invoice
- Recurring invoices
- Let your client accept a quote online
- How to send a payment reminder
- How to make a quote
- VAT rates on an invoice
- Invoicing a client in the EU
- Due date and payment terms
- Peppol or email