Facturae — Spanish e-invoicing
Facturae is Spain's mandatory XML standard for e-invoicing to public administrations (administraciones públicas). Every invoice over €5,000 to a Spanish public buyer must be submitted as a signed Facturae XML through FACe, the central public-sector invoice point — or through a regional point (FACeB2B, OSAKIDETZA, etc.) where it applies.
Already mandatory since 2015 for invoices to public administrations above €5,000. The general B2B mandate (Ley Crea y Crece) extends e-invoicing to all VAT-registered businesses — phased rollout from 2026 onwards (large enterprises first).
Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital · FACe (Punto General de Entrada de Facturas Electrónicas)
Facturae 3.2.2 (XML), XAdES-BES digital signature, DIR3 administrative codes
The manual reality
Facturae's XML schema (currently version 3.2.2) is strict, and the digital signature requirement (XAdES-BES inside the XML envelope) adds a real cryptographic step that off-the-shelf accounting tools rarely handle well. Submission failures are common: missing CIF, invalid administrative codes (DIR3), expired certificates. Each failure means a manual re-submission and a delayed payment.
The WorkAist approach
The WorkAist Facturae agent generates the XML from your accounting system, attaches a valid XAdES-BES signature using your stored certificate, validates the structure against the official Facturae schema, looks up the buyer's DIR3 codes from the central directory, and submits to FACe via its SOAP web service. Submission acknowledgements (with the unique RCF code) are stored against the invoice automatically.
Implementation in 5 steps
- 1Connect your accounting system (Holded, Sage Spain, A3 ASESOR, Contasimple).
- 2Upload your qualified digital certificate (typically issued by FNMT-RCM or Camerfirma).
- 3Map your customers' DIR3 codes (oficina contable / órgano gestor / unidad tramitadora) — the agent auto-suggests these from the central registry.
- 4Define your submission policy (real-time per-invoice or daily batch).
- 5The agent transmits, captures the RCF acknowledgement, and updates the invoice status in your accounting system.
Connectors & agents involved
FAQ
Will the upcoming B2B mandate use the same Facturae format?▼
The exact technical specification is still being finalised (currently in regulatory consultation), but the Spanish government has signalled that Facturae and other EN-16931-compliant formats will both be acceptable. WorkAist tracks the regulatory update and will support the final B2B format ahead of the deadline.
What happens if my certificate expires?▼
The agent monitors certificate validity and emails the responsible person 60 days before expiry. During the renewal window, you can upload the new certificate without downtime — the agent picks it up automatically.
Can the agent also process incoming Facturae invoices from suppliers?▼
Yes. The FACeB2B inbound channel and direct supplier transmissions are both supported. The agent validates the signature, parses the structure, and posts the invoice to your accounting tool as a draft for approval.
Automate Facturae — Spanish e-invoicing this month
Open-source, self-hosted, AGPL-3.0. Your data stays in your infrastructure.
Get started