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Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist

Practical Italy e-invoicing software checklist for SDI, FatturaPA XML, PEC/web-service receipt, rejection handling, archiving and accountant workflows.

Quick verdict:
  • Check the full SDI loop: FatturaPA XML, recipient code or PEC, submission status, rejection repair, inbound invoices and evidence archive.
  • Ask who owns each live channel: ERP, intermediary, accountant, PEC/SFTP/web service, support queue and month-end exception handling.
  • Do not shortlist an Italy tool until a rejected XML, a credit note and an archived supplier invoice are demonstrated end to end.
Last checked: 28 June 2026Based on official sourcesClear summaryBusiness guidance, not legal advice
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What you need to know

Guide

Why Italy deserves a separate software check

Italy is not just another PDF-to-email market. Italian e-invoices are prepared in the FatturaPA XML format and routed through the Sistema di Interscambio, usually called SDI or SdI. That means a useful invoicing tool must prove technical validation, transmission, status visibility and compliant storage, not only invoice design.

Guide

Who should use this checklist

Use it if you have an Italian entity, sell B2B or B2G from Italy, receive supplier invoices in Italy, operate an ERP or SaaS billing tool for an Italian subsidiary, or need your accountant to manage SDI workflows. Foreign groups should confirm whether they need local Italian VAT processes, an intermediary, or a local accounting owner.

Guide

Terms to bring into vendor calls

Bring these Italian workflow terms into demos and RFPs: fatturazione elettronica, Sistema di Interscambio, SDI/SdI, FatturaPA, XML, Agenzia delle Entrate, codice destinatario, PEC, canale telematico, SFTP, web service, ricevuta, notifica di scarto, conservazione digitale, reverse charge, Natura codes, Italian VAT treatment and accountant permissions.

Guide

Outbound invoice checks

Ask the provider to create a realistic domestic invoice in FatturaPA XML, validate required fields, submit it to SDI, show the protocol or status response, and explain how a rejected invoice is corrected. The demo should cover VAT treatment, customer recipient code or PEC, attachments where used, credit notes and export of evidence for accounting review.

Guide

Inbound invoice checks

Receiving is as important as issuing. The Agenzia delle Entrate guidance explains that invoices may be delivered to a PEC address or telematic channel such as SFTP or web service, including via a third-party provider. Confirm who owns that channel, how invoices arrive in the ERP, how duplicates are avoided and how users approve supplier invoices.

Guide

Archiving and evidence

Italy projects often fail when transmission works but evidence is weak. Ask where XML files, SDI receipts, rejection notices, corrections and audit logs are stored, whether the archive is searchable by VAT number and date, and how long-term digital conservation is handled. Do not accept screenshots as the only compliance evidence.

Guide

Decision criteria for software buyers

Score each tool on Italian update ownership, FatturaPA validation, SDI connectivity, rejection workflow, inbound processing, accountant access, ERP/API integration, volume handling, archive/conservation, support in Italian and your working language, and total implementation effort. If a vendor uses an intermediary, identify exactly which responsibilities remain with your company.

Guide

Next action this week

Create an Italy test pack: one standard domestic B2B invoice, one public-sector or B2G-style scenario if relevant, one credit note, one rejected XML, one supplier invoice received via PEC or channel, one archive retrieval and one accountant-permission test. Send the same pack to your ERP, billing provider and accountant.

Guide

How to use this guide

Use this guide to decide whether Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist affects your Italy workflow and which evidence is still missing. Start with official scope, software workflow, invoice data, then test create a realistic invoice and test a supplier invoice before comparing software.

Guide

Data and terms to prepare

For Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist, the important terms are Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist, Italy, official scope, software workflow, invoice data, corrections, archive and evidence. Clean these fields in customer, supplier, tax and accounting records before rollout; otherwise validation and support issues appear during daily invoicing.

Guide

Software proof to request

For Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist, ask vendors to show show the complete workflow with realistic invoice examples, user roles and exceptions using your examples. The demo should cover create a realistic invoice, test a supplier invoice, simulate a validation error, check archive search and explain who handles errors, corrections, archive access and accountant handoff for official scope, software workflow, invoice data.

Guide

Evidence before rollout

Keep official links, screenshots, test invoices and the decision reason for Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist. For Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist, the implementation file should prove how official scope, software workflow, invoice data, corrections were checked, not just that a tool was selected.

Guide

Decision checkpoint

Do not close Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist until someone can explain Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist in Italy, name the workflow owner, show one tested invoice scenario and describe how the team avoids choosing software for Italy before proving the real Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist workflow.

Checklist

Confirm Italian scope: entity, VAT position, invoice types, customers and accounting owner

Verify FatturaPA XML generation and field validation before transmission

Check SDI submission route, intermediary role, protocol/status visibility and retry process

Test recipient code, PEC and telematic channel handling for sending and receiving

Run rejection, correction, credit note and month-end volume scenarios

Review archive, conservazione digitale, search, export and audit evidence

Confirm accountant permissions, user roles, API/ERP integration and support language

Document official sources, vendor proof, remaining gaps and implementation owner

FAQ

Is Italy e-invoicing only a PDF requirement?

No. Italian e-invoicing relies on structured FatturaPA XML transmitted through SDI. A PDF view can be useful for humans, but it is not the core compliance workflow.

What is SDI?

SDI, or Sistema di Interscambio, is the exchange system managed by the Italian Revenue Agency. It receives invoice files, performs checks and forwards them to public administrations or private recipients.

What is FatturaPA?

FatturaPA is the structured Italian electronic invoice format used for invoices routed through SDI. Software should generate valid XML and keep related receipt evidence.

Should software support both sending and receiving?

Yes. A company must understand how it issues invoices, receives supplier invoices, handles rejections, books documents and stores evidence. Receiving via PEC or a telematic channel is a core operational question.

What should I ask about rejected invoices?

Ask how the error is shown, who fixes it, whether the corrected XML keeps the right reference trail, and how the accounting team sees the final accepted status.

Can an intermediary manage SDI for me?

Often yes, but you still need to know the division of responsibility for channels, credentials, support, data quality, archiving, errors and accountant access.

What is the biggest buying risk?

The biggest risk is buying a tool that can submit a simple invoice but cannot manage inbound invoices, rejections, corrections, evidence and accountant workflow at real monthly volume.

Is this legal or tax advice?

No. It is practical software-readiness guidance. Confirm legal interpretation, VAT treatment and retention requirements with official Italian sources and qualified advisers.

What should I test first for Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist?

For Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist, start with create a realistic invoice, test a supplier invoice, simulate a validation error because those scenarios reveal whether the workflow is practical.

What is the main risk for Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist?

The main risk is choosing software for Italy before proving the real Italy SDI and FatturaPA software checklist workflow.

Key regulations, formats and terms

European CommissioneInvoicingEN 16931Directive 2014/55/EUstructured electronic invoiceVAT automationcross-border tradeItaly SDI and FatturaPA software checklistItaly

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Official sources

We prioritize official government and EU sources where available and keep last-checked dates visible for mandate-sensitive pages.