Advance payment

Must advance-payment invoices also be sent through an e-invoicing delivery-service provider?

Short answer

Yes. An invoice issued for a payment received before goods or services are supplied is a regular invoice under § 72 ods. 1 of the VAT Act, not a separate document with a lower legal status. From 1 January 2027 it is therefore subject to the same electronic-invoicing regime as a normal final invoice: it must be issued in the required structured format and sent through a certified delivery service like any other e-invoice.

§ 72 ods. 1

Advance invoice = regular invoice

Accepted payment in advance establishes the obligation to draw up an invoice in the same way as for delivery.

The same e-invoice mode

From 1/1/2027

An advance invoice is subject to the same structured format and delivery service as a regular invoice.

Not pro forma

Differentiation of documents

A request for payment without invoice details is not sent through the e-invoice system.

15-day period

The same as for a regular invoice

It also applies to the invoice for the received payment in advance.

Conclusion

An advance invoice issued for a payment actually received is a regular invoice and, starting in 2027, it must be sent via a e-invoicing delivery-service provider in the same way as a regular billing e-invoice.

Sources

  • Law no. 222/2004 Z. z. Coll. on VAT, § 72 ods. 1
  • Law no. 222/2004 Z. z. Coll. on VAT, § 85o (as amended by Act No. 385/2025 Z. z. Coll.)

Not legal advice.