How to invoice French clients
from the UK.
Your French clients are asking for Factur-X invoices. Most UK invoicing tools have never heard of it. Facturwise generates Factur-X 1.0.8 automatically, compliant, readable, and ready to send. No French required. No accounting software. No setup.
No credit card. No time limit. All formats included.
- EN 16931 compliant by default
- EU data hosting
- GDPR
- 30+ currencies
- 0% fees on SEPA payments
The problem UK freelancers face
As a UK freelancer invoicing French clients, you face a format problem that most UK tools cannot solve. You landed a French client. You sent a PDF invoice. They came back asking for a Factur-X invoice, or an e-invoice in a structured format. Maybe they mentioned EN 16931. Maybe they just said their system could not process your invoice.
This is increasingly common. France is rolling out mandatory e-invoicing from September 2026. Large and mid-sized French companies must issue and receive structured e-invoices from that date. Many are already updating their accounts payable systems to expect Factur-X. A standard PDF no longer gets processed the same way, and in some cases it gets rejected entirely.
The problem is that virtually no UK invoicing tool generates Factur-X. FreeAgent does not. FreshBooks does not. Wave does not. QuickBooks UK does not. Xero does not. They were built for the UK and US markets, and Factur-X is a French and European standard.
Facturwise was built for exactly this situation.
Why your current invoicing tool does not work for French clients
Most UK invoicing tools, FreeAgent, FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Wave, Xero, were built for the UK and US markets. Factur-X is a French and European standard that requires generating a PDF/A-3 file with embedded XML conforming to EN 16931. None of the major UK tools support this natively. Some offer EU invoicing features but these cover VAT compliance, not structured e-invoice format generation.
Facturwise was built from the ground up for the European market and generates Factur-X 1.0.8 automatically on every invoice.
What Facturwise does for UK freelancers invoicing France
Factur-X 1.0.8: what your French client actually needs
Factur-X, sometimes written as Facture-X, is a hybrid format. It is a normal PDF invoice with an XML data file embedded inside. Your French client can open it and read it like any PDF. Their accounting system reads the embedded XML automatically. It complies with the European standard EN 16931. Facturwise generates it from the free plan, no activation needed.
Your invoice, in English
You do not need to write your invoice in French. Factur-X is a format standard, not a language requirement. Facturwise supports 22 invoice languages. You can write in English and your French client's system will still process the structured data correctly. If your client prefers a French-language invoice, switch the document language in Facturwise in one click.
VAT (TVA) handled correctly
As a UK freelancer invoicing a VAT-registered French business, you do not charge VAT (TVA in France). The reverse charge mechanism applies. Your French client accounts for TVA on their side under Article 196 of the EU VAT Directive. Your invoice should state this clearly. Facturwise applies the correct reverse charge wording automatically and includes your client's French VAT number on the invoice.
Factur-X and the Plateforme Agréée: what you need to know
France's domestic e-invoicing mandate covers transactions between two businesses established in France. As a UK supplier, your invoice to a French client is a cross-border transaction and falls outside that domestic scope entirely. You create the Factur-X file in Facturwise and send it directly to your French client by email. No Plateforme Agréée required on your side. Facturwise is not a Plateforme Agréée and does not transmit invoices through the French DGFiP system.
Chorus Pro if your client is a French public authority
Invoicing a French ministry, municipality, hospital or public university? French public sector bodies receive invoices through Chorus Pro, France's B2G invoicing portal. As a UK supplier you can submit invoices to Chorus Pro directly. Chorus Pro accepts Factur-X format. Facturwise generates the Factur-X 1.0.8 file. You upload it to Chorus Pro yourself. Your client provides their Service Exécutant, Engagement Juridique or SIRET code for routing.
ZUGFeRD if you also invoice German clients
Also billing German companies? ZUGFeRD and Factur-X are technically the same format. Both are hybrid PDF/XML files conforming to EN 16931, just branded differently in each country. Facturwise generates both from the same account. No separate tool. No separate login.
Do UK freelancers have to use Factur-X?
No. The French e-invoicing mandate applies to businesses established in France. As a UK-based freelancer without a French fixed establishment, you are not legally required to issue Factur-X invoices. Your invoice to a French client is a cross-border transaction and falls outside the scope of France's domestic e-invoicing mandate.
However, your French client's accounting system may be configured to expect structured invoices as they prepare for the September 2026 mandate. If they ask for Factur-X, sending a plain PDF creates friction: delayed payments, manual processing, or outright rejection by their system.
Generating Factur-X is not a legal obligation for you. It is a practical one. French clients who can process your invoice automatically pay faster and ask fewer questions.
What to do if your French client rejects your invoice
If a French client says their system cannot process your invoice, or asks you to resubmit in a structured format, they almost certainly need Factur-X. Their accounts payable system is being configured to import invoice data automatically from the embedded XML. A plain PDF requires manual entry on their side.
Create your invoice in Facturwise and download the Factur-X file. Send it to your client by email as an attachment. Their system reads the embedded XML automatically.
Not sure whether your existing invoice is already compliant? Use the free Facturwise validator at facturwise.com/en/validate, no account required. Upload your PDF or XML and get an instant EN 16931 compliance report.
What to put on your invoice for a French client
A valid invoice for a French business client requires the following. Facturwise includes all of these automatically:
- Your full name and address.
- Your client's full name and address.
- Your client's French VAT number (starting with FR followed by 11 characters, for example FR12345678901).
- Your client's SIREN number (9-digit French company identifier) or SIRET number (14-digit establishment identifier, which is the SIREN plus a 5-digit establishment code). French clients may provide either. Both are acceptable for invoice purposes, and from 2026 French clients increasingly require one or the other for their own Factur-X processing.
- Your own VAT number if you are VAT-registered in the UK.
- A unique sequential invoice number.
- The date of issue.
- The payment due date, required under French commercial law.
- The applicable late payment penalty rate, also required under French commercial law. The standard rate is three times the French legal interest rate.
- A clear description of the services provided.
- The net amount.
- A statement that the reverse charge applies: the wording "VAT reverse charge, Article 196, Council Directive 2006/112/EC" is standard and accepted by French clients.
You can verify any French VAT number for free using the EU VIES system at ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies before sending your first invoice. An invalid VAT number means the reverse charge cannot be applied and your client may reject the invoice.
If you are not VAT-registered in the UK, include a note stating you are not registered for VAT.
All formats. All plans.
| Format | For | From plan |
|---|---|---|
Factur-X 1.0.8 | French business clients | Free |
ZUGFeRD 2.4 | German B2B clients | Free |
XRechnung 3.0 | German public authorities | Free |
Peppol BIS 3.0 | Belgian and Dutch B2B clients | Free |
All formats comply with the European standard EN 16931. No hidden upgrades.
Simple pricing. No surprises.
5 invoices total
- Factur-X 1.0.8, ZUGFeRD 2.4, XRechnung 3.0, Peppol BIS 3.0
- 5 saved clients
- Quotes and credit notes
- Expense and time tracking
- No credit card
- No time limit
per month · unlimited invoices and clients
- Everything in the free plan
- Unlimited invoices
- Unlimited clients
- SEPA QR code payments
- Quarterly tax summary CSV
- Analytics dashboard
per month · full automation
- Everything in the Advanced plan
- Automated payment reminders
- Automated recurring billing
- Automated recurring expenses
- White-label invoices (no Facturwise branding)
- Priority support
All prices excluding VAT. Cancel anytime. Compare all plans →
Frequently asked questions
Five invoices free. No credit card.
Factur-X 1.0.8, ZUGFeRD 2.4, XRechnung 3.0 and Peppol BIS 3.0. All formats, all plans.