A guide to eInvoicing for businesses in Australia and New Zealand

A growing number of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are switching to eInvoicing as a faster and more secure way to send and receive invoices. 

But what exactly is eInvoicing, and how can it benefit your business? Here’s everything you need to know.

No – and the difference is important. When you email a PDF invoice, you’re sending a document that someone needs to manually open, read and enter into their accounting system. It’s a digital version of a paper invoice, but it still requires human effort to process.

eInvoicing, on the other hand, sends your invoice data directly from your accounting software to your customer’s accounting software in a structured, standardised format. The systems “talk” to each other automatically, with no manual data entry needed on your part. Unlike PDFs that are emailed, eInvoices can’t be misplaced or accidentally altered.

So, where does Tickstar fit in?

Tickstar is a global provider of eInvoicing infrastructure. We connect your accounting software to the Peppol network, which is the global network for exchanging eInvoices and other electronic documents. This allows eInvoices to be transmitted securely and reliably on the network.

eInvoicing delivers several significant benefits for small and mid-sized businesses:

Interesting fact: The ACCC reports that in 2024, payment redirection scams cost Australian businesses $152.6 million, with small and micro businesses being the most targeted. eInvoicing provides a secure channel that minimises this risk.

If you’re already using accounting software with eInvoicing enabled, like Xero, you don’t need to purchase anything additional. Setting it up is straightforward and typically just a matter of registering your business details (more on this in question 8). 

If your accounting software already supports eInvoicing, there’s no additional cost to send and receive eInvoices. It’s built into the software you’re already using.

If you’re already registered for eInvoicing through your accounting software provider (like Xero), the eInvoice will automatically appear as a draft bill in your accounting software.

Your accounts team can then review and process it as usual, but without having to manually enter any of the invoice details. 

Basically, the data entry step of receiving an emailed invoice and manually entering it into your accounting software is no longer needed.

The process works the same way, but in reverse.

When you send an eInvoice, it’s delivered directly to your customer’s accounting software (assuming they’re also registered for eInvoicing). They’ll see it appear as a new bill in their system, ready for review and payment.

Your customer doesn’t need to use the same accounting software as you. As long as they’re using eInvoicing-enabled software, they’ll be able to receive your eInvoice.

eInvoicing is quickly gaining traction around the world as businesses look to strengthen security, reduce admin and improve their processes.

The Australian and New Zealand governments are also both actively supporting eInvoicing adoption to drive efficiency and support small to mid-sized businesses. In October 2025, New Zealand’s MBIE announced new government procurement rules relating to eInvoicing. And in Australia, the ATO set new targets for eInvoicing adoption in August 2025.

In short: eInvoicing is expected to eventually overtake email as the standard way to exchange invoices – and there’s no time like the present to start preparing.

You can get your team onboard early by explaining the benefits:

You’ll need to register your business to the Peppol network through your accounting software.

What you’ll need:

If you’re using Xero, you’ll find instructions on how to register to receive eInvoices here.

The exact steps will vary if you’re using different accounting software, but the process is generally straightforward.

Ready to simplify your invoicing process? Learn more about eInvoicing with Xero and see how easy it is to get started today.