Copyright euroweeklynews
Thousands of expat-run businesses, boutiques, and consultancies across Malaga Province remain dangerously unaware of Verifactu, the new anti-fraud invoicing law which is launching at the beginning of 2026. From January 1, Spanish authorities demand immediate action to avoid crippling penalties that could shut doors overnight. This ensures that your company is legally compliant and complies with the anti-fraud law. The aim is to combat the so-called “shadow economy”, which is estimated at around €200 billion. Verifactu forces every computerised billing system to create tamper-proof records. In plain terms, software must lock each invoice with a digital chain and QR code so the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) can verify authenticity instantly. Manual paper invoices escape the rule for now, but anyone using accounting apps, POS terminals, or Excel macros falls under the new rules. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must act fast. Self-employed autonomos face the hard deadline of July 1 2026, while limited companies and other corporate taxpayers need compliance by 1 January 2026. Software upgrades, staff training, and AEAT registration can take months, not days. Business owners must follow three clear steps now: Audit current software – confirm it meets Verifactu XML standards, hash-chaining, and QR generation. Contact certified developers – obtain a responsible declaration of compliance before the cut-off. Choose a submission mode – send records live to AEAT or store them locally with unbreakable audit trails. Failure to prepare could lead to costly consequences. The AEAT classifies altered or missing records as serious tax infractions. Fines start at €150 per incorrect invoice, escalating to €50,000 for deliberate suppression. Repeat offenders risk criminal proceedings and forced closure. Every Malaga-based sole trader, partnership, or limited company issuing invoices via computer must adopt Verifactu. Chambers of commerce warn that procrastination with this could equal disaster. “Many British, Dutch, and Scandinavian owners believe this only affects large chains,” says Malaga’s International Business Alliance. “In reality, a single laptop running QuickBooks triggers the obligation.” Software vendors are reporting a scramble for updates, with waiting lists stretching into spring 2026. Owners who delay face incompatible systems, emergency costs, and last-minute panic. Secure your future today. Download the AEAT’s free Verifactu checklist, schedule a developer consultation this week, and get in line with compliance before queues form. A compliant invoice in 2026 protects years of hard-won trade. Several specialist companies in the Costa del Sol have already set up ready to ease the electronic transition. Malaga-based firms such as TPVyPesaje (Spanish), MalagaVerifactu (Spanish) and Quadranet España (English) are dealing with hundreds of enquiries from small and medium-sized local businesses in the rush to be Verifactu-ready for 2026.
