What is a Peppol ID

What is a Peppol ID?

A Peppol ID, also referred to as a Peppol Address or Participant Identifier, is a unique digital address that identifies a company within the Peppol network. You can compare it to a phone number, but specifically for electronic invoices. It ensures that your invoices always reach the correct recipient.

‍

How is a Peppol ID structured?

A Peppol ID follows an international standard and consists of three elements.

Example:
Peppol ID Banqup SA: iso6523 actorid upis::0208:0649860804

• iso6523-actorid-upis: The scheme
  iso6523 actorid upis refers to the international standard for organisation identification. Within the Peppol network this scheme is almost always used. For that reason it is often hidden in user interfaces even though it is part of the complete structure.

• 0208: The identification code:
  The first block of numbers indicates which type of registration number the Peppol ID is based on. Code 0208 is used for Belgian company numbers. Other codes exist for VAT numbers, GLN numbers, DUNS numbers and more.

• 0649860804: The actual identification number
  This is the unique number of the organisation itself. In the example above it concerns a Belgian company number.

‍

Which types of Peppol ID can be created

Peppol only accepts official and internationally recognised identification systems. In Belgium the Peppol Authority requires every organisation to have at least one Peppol registration based on its company number. Additional identifiers are optional and mainly used for specific operational needs.

‍

In daily practice company numbers and VAT numbers remain the most widely used. Still there are situations where an additional identifier adds value, for example when organisations need to distinguish between multiple locations or internal entities. Below we explain GLN and DUNS identifiers in more detail.

Peppol ID based on GLN

A GLN or Global Location Number is a worldwide unique identifier managed by GS1. It is especially useful for organisations with several locations, warehouses or departments. A Peppol ID based on a GLN makes it possible to route invoices directly to the correct internal entity.

Example

• Head office with a dedicated GLN
• Warehouse with its own GLN
• Billing department with a separate GLN

GLN based identifiers are widely used to support accurate document routing within large organisations.

‍

Peppol ID based on DUNS

A DUNS number is an internationally recognised company identifier managed by Dun and Bradstreet. A major benefit is its stability. A DUNS number remains the same when a company merges, changes its legal structure or adopts a new trade name. It is a robust long term identifier, although it is used less frequently within Peppol compared to other identification types.

‍

Peppol ID based on IBAN

A Peppol ID based on an IBAN uses a globally standardised format. Since each IBAN is linked to one specific bank account, the risk of incorrect or duplicate identification is very small. In practice IBAN based identifiers are less common, as company numbers and VAT numbers are more straightforward for most businesses.

‍

If you have questions about Peppol IDs or would like advice on which identification type best fits your organisation, feel free to contact us. Our team is happy to help.