Egypt's e-invoicing system and export invoices
Egypt moved companies onto mandatory e-invoicing in phases from 2020. Every B2B invoice, including export invoices to foreign clients, is submitted to the Egyptian Tax Authority with a digital signature and goods or service codes. The foreign client sees a PDF; the ETA sees everything.
- Published
- Reading time
- 1 min read
An Alexandria furniture exporter ships to a distributor in Lyon. Its invoice is created in its ERP, signed with a digital signature, submitted to the Egyptian Tax Authority's e-invoicing system and validated within seconds. The French distributor receives a PDF. The ETA already has the line items, codes and values.
The system
Egypt's ETA introduced mandatory e-invoicing in phases from 2020, starting with large taxpayers and extending to most registered companies by 2023. Each B2B invoice is:
- created in a structured format,
- signed with a digital signature certificate,
- coded with GS1 or EGS item codes,
- submitted to the ETA and validated.
Companies submit through the ETA portal or by integrating their ERP.
Export invoices
Export invoices follow the same process. They identify the foreign buyer and apply the export treatment for VAT. Customs export declarations support goods exports; contracts support service exports.
E-receipts
B2C sales use the ETA's e-receipt system, rolled out separately from B2B e-invoicing.
Preparation for new companies
- Register on the ETA portal.
- Obtain a digital signature certificate.
- Map products and services to item codes.
- Integrate your ERP or use the portal.
Paying into Egypt: the local rail
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | InstaPay |
| Run by | Egyptian Banks Company, under the Central Bank of Egypt |
| Settlement | Seconds, 24/7 |
Source: Central Bank of Egypt: InstaPay. Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.
Where Rivet fits
Rivet does not submit invoices to the ETA. A Rivet business account accepts registered companies after verification, subject to local rules; Egyptian companies should check foreign account rules with their bank. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds.
Questions people ask
Who must use Egypt's e-invoicing system?
Companies registered with the ETA were brought in by phases from 2020 to 2023. By now most registered businesses are covered.
Do export invoices go through the system?
Yes. Export invoices are submitted with the foreign buyer's details and the export treatment for VAT.
What is needed to submit e-invoices?
A digital signature certificate, registration on the ETA portal, and item codes for goods and services.
What about sales to consumers?
The ETA's e-receipt system covers B2C sales and is being rolled out separately.
Sources
William covers what happens once a company starts moving money: getting the business verified, paying contractors and suppliers abroad, and keeping card spend under control. William writes for the founder or finance lead who has to make it work this week, and links every rule cited to the text it comes from.
More from William Sunjo M. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
- egypt
- e-invoicing
- eta
- exports
- vat
- digital signature
