ZATCA E-Invoice Integration is the main focus of this guide, and we explain how the entire approval and compliance process works in 2026.
Saudi Arabia’s digital tax transformation is accelerating, and ZATCA E-Invoice Integration has now become mandatory for all VAT-registered businesses. ZATCA (Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority) requires companies to generate, store, and integrate e-invoices through approved solutions under a two-phase rollout known as Fatoora.
This guide provides the latest 2025-updated steps, compliance rules, technical requirements, and system integration procedures you must follow to get your ZATCA e-invoice solution fully approved and integrated. Insights are based on the latest ZATCA documentation and integration frameworks.
- What Is ZATCA E-Invoicing (Fatoora)?
- Phase 1 – E-Invoice Generation Requirements
- Phase 2 – Integration With ZATCA Platform
- Approval & Activation Waves
- Step-by-Step Process to Get Your E-Invoice System Approved
- Common Reasons for ZATCA Rejection
- Benefits of ZATCA Integration for Businesses
- Best Practices for Smooth ZATCA Integration
- Conclusion
- Call to Action (CTA)
What Is ZATCA E-Invoicing (Fatoora)?
ZATCA launched e-invoicing to modernize business reporting, prevent tax evasion, improve transparency, and standardize invoice processing across Saudi Arabia. Every business must:
- Issue electronic invoices in a structured digital format
- Use compliant software connected to the ZATCA system
- Generate secure, tamper-proof invoices
- Enable real-time reporting and clearance for selected transactions
There are two mandatory phases you must comply with.
Phase 1 – E-Invoice Generation Requirements
Phase 1 (“Generation Phase”) went into effect for all VAT-registered businesses. In this stage, your invoicing system must be able to:
Mandatory Fields for Every E-Invoice
- Seller name
- VAT registration number
- Invoice timestamp
- VAT total
- Total amount with VAT
- Unique invoice identifier (UUID)
- QR code (for simplified invoices)
Technical Requirements
Your system must be capable of generating invoices in Arabic or bilingual format and ensure:
- Digital signatures
- Tamper-proof invoice generation
- Cryptographic stamping
- Archiving & storage in electronic format
No real-time submission to ZATCA is required yet, but all data must be securely stored for audits.
(Source: Latest Perplexity PDF insights on Phase 1 requirements
How to Get Your ZATCA E-Invoice
Phase 2 – Integration With ZATCA Platform
Phase 2 is where full integration and real-time reporting become mandatory.
This phase started rolling out from January 1, 2023 and continues in waves based on taxable revenue.
Key Requirements in Phase 2
Your ERP, POS, or billing software must be capable of:
- Real-time communication with ZATCA’s Fatoora system via APIs
- Invoice clearance (B2B) & reporting (B2C)
- Digital signing using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
- Generating invoices in XML or PDF/A-3 with embedded XML
- Including ZATCA-generated cryptographic stamp & QR code
- Secure transmission of invoice data
How ZATCA Validates Invoices
Once an invoice is submitted:
- Your system sends invoice data to ZATCA through a secure API.
- ZATCA validates and returns:
- Approved invoice
- Rejected invoice (with reasons)
- Correction request
- Approved invoice
Your system finalizes the invoice and stores it securely.
Source: Integration steps, XML schemas & API process summarized from Perplexity PDF content
How to Get Your ZATCA E-Invoice
Approval & Activation Waves
ZATCA notifies eligible taxpayers at least six months before their enforcement deadline.
Activation is rolled out based on:
- Annual taxable revenue
- Industry category
- Readiness of taxpayer systems
Businesses receiving notification must integrate within the specified timeframe to avoid penalties.
Step-by-Step Process to Get Your E-Invoice System Approved
Step 1: Choose a ZATCA-Compliant Solution Provider
Ensure your POS/ERP vendor meets ZATCA’s latest technical and security standards:
- XML schema support
- API integration capability
- PKI digital signatures
- Cryptographic stamps
- Tamper-proof storage
Step 2: Configure Your System for Phase 1 Compliance
- Enable invoice generation with mandatory data fields
- Add QR codes & timestamps
- Configure Arabic/Bilingual invoice formats
- Implement secure cloud or local storage for archiving
Step 3: Complete Phase 2 Technical Integration
This includes:
- Connecting your system to ZATCA’s Fatoora API
- Sending test invoices to the sandbox environment
- Getting platform readiness approval
- Activating cryptographic stamps and production APIs
Step 4: Go Live & Maintain Compliance
Once approved:
- Send all invoices in real-time
- Keep audit-ready logs
- Update your ERP/POS whenever new technical releases are published
ZATCA periodically updates technical specifications, so maintaining compliance is an ongoing requirement.
Common Reasons for ZATCA Rejection
- Missing mandatory fields
- Incorrect XML structure
- Missing cryptographic stamp
- Incorrect QR code formatting
- System not aligned with new schema updates
- Unsafe or insecure API transmission
Each rejection comes with a specific error code your developer must rectify.
Benefits of ZATCA Integration for Businesses
- Faster invoicing and smoother audits
- Reduced risk of compliance penalties
- Real-time tax reporting
- Enhanced business transparency
- Accurate revenue tracking
- Better customer trust
Best Practices for Smooth ZATCA Integration
- Train your finance & IT teams
- Test thoroughly in ZATCA sandbox
- Keep your ERP/POS updated
- Partner with certified implementation experts
- Maintain secure invoice storage
- Review compliance rules regularly
Conclusion
Getting your ZATCA e-invoice system approved and integrated is essential for doing business in Saudi Arabia.
With the right system, technical setup, and ongoing compliance, you can ensure smooth operations and avoid penalties.
If you need expert assistance with ZATCA e-invoicing setup, integration, or consulting—get in touch today and let our certified specialists help you become fully compliant.
Call to Action (CTA)
Ready to become fully ZATCA-compliant? Contact us now to integrate your e-invoicing system seamlessly.