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Rule 51:
eInvoicing capability

Explains when agencies must be capable of sending and receiving eInvoices.

Rule 51 must meet the requirement from 1 January 2026

Agencies must meet the requirements of Rule 51 to be eInvoice capable by 1 January 2026.

Explains when agencies must be capable of sending and receiving eInvoices.

  1. Agencies that receive more than 2,000 domestic trade invoices annually must be capable of receiving eInvoices through their primary accounts payable system(s).
  2. Agencies that send more than 2,000 domestic trade invoices annually must be capable of sending eInvoices through their primary accounts receivable system(s).

Types of invoices that Rule 51 applies to

The requirement only applies to invoices related only to domestic trade credit that are received or sent by an agency in the ordinary course of its business.

Definitions

Invoice is a document or electronic message that signals a requirement to pay for goods or services that the business issuing the invoice has provided the agency. Invoices must contain the required information and be sent to the right address.

Domestic means that the requested payment is in $NZD, for goods or services supplied within New Zealand, by an entity that carries on business in New Zealand.

Electronic invoicing (eInvoicing) is the direct exchange of digital invoice information between a supplier’s and a buyer’s software or systems using the secure Peppol (Pan-European Public Procurement On Line) network and common standard. The New Zealand and Australian governments have committed to a joint approach to eInvoicing using Peppol, a global standardised framework that enables businesses to exchange procurement documents electronically.

Trade credit is where there is agreement for a delay between supply of goods or services and payment for those goods or services. In other words, the good or service must already have been provided (to the required standard and quantity).

Ordinary course of business means that, for the agency making payment, the invoice is usual or otherwise unremarkable (that is, invoices of that type would be processed regularly, using the standard accounts payable process). This excludes invoices that are so significant that extraordinary checks and approvals are required (for example, payments for significant infrastructure).

Types of payments that are out of scope

Requests for payment that are out of scope include:

  • reimbursement of employee expenses
  • rents, leases and utilities (office space, power, telecoms etc)
  • credit card statements, finance payments, and insurance premiums
  • payments made regularly as part of an ongoing contract, which don’t require an invoice, such as progress payments on a roading contract.

Requests for payment in these contexts are not considered invoices for the purposes of the Procurement Rule. Including them would skew payment time reporting and add unnecessary complexity.

You can find eInvoicing information and resources specific to government agencies on the MBIE eInvoicing page.

Advice for government agencies - eInvoicing

If you use a finance platform that requires an Access Point Provider to enable eInvoicing, there is an open government syndicated panel.

Government open syndicated agreement: PEPPOL capabilities and associated services

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