If you invoice clients as an autónomo in Spain, VeriFactu is not optional and it is not far away. Here is what it actually requires, when it hits you, and how to comply without paying a cent.
VeriFactu is Spain's new invoicing integrity system, created by the anti-fraud law (Ley 11/2021) and Royal Decree 1007/2023. In practice, it means your invoicing software must keep an unalterable, chained record of every invoice you issue — no editing, no deleting, no gaps in numbering — and be able to send those records to the AEAT. Every invoice also carries a QR code so anyone can verify it.
If you are a foreign freelancer registered as autónomo, this applies to you exactly as it applies to any Spanish freelancer. Your nationality, your clients' location and your language are irrelevant: if you issue invoices from Spain, the system applies.
Ignore any article still quoting 2025 or 2026 dates: the deadlines were officially extended. The dates that count now are 1 January 2027 for companies (sociedades) and 1 July 2027 for freelancers under personal income tax (IRPF). The software makers' own deadline already passed in July 2025 — adapted products are on the market today.
The sanction regime is the uncomfortable part: using software that does not meet the requirements is a serious infringement, with fines that can reach €50,000 per fiscal year. "I didn't know" is not a defence the AEAT accepts.
Here is the single most useful fact in this guide: the AEAT does not certify, approve or "homologate" any software. What the law requires is a signed declaración responsable (sworn statement) from the manufacturer confirming their product meets the regulation. Any vendor claiming to be "officially approved by Hacienda" is selling you marketing, not compliance.
Before choosing a tool, check three things: the declaración responsable is published on their website; invoice numbering is locked (unalterable series); and the invoice includes the verification QR.
For starting free: STEL Order offers a permanent free plan — no card required — with VeriFactu-compliant invoicing built in, plus quotes, clients and a mobile app that works offline. It is not a newcomer: over 50,000 active users and a 4.9/5 average rating across 2,000+ reviews. If you invoice a handful of clients a month, the free plan can carry you well past 2027.
If you work closely with a Spanish accountant (gestoría): Quipu is our pick — OCR for receipts with AI, connection with 300+ banks, and plans from €8.5/month with a 15-day free trial. One honest caveat for expats: its interface and support are in Spanish, so it suits you best if you already handle the language or your gestor drives it.
The most common expat mistake: assuming Stripe invoices make you compliant. They do not — Stripe is a payment layer, not a Spanish-compliant invoicing system. The working setup is two pieces: Stripe (or any card terminal) to charge, plus adapted invoicing software that issues the legal invoice. Most Spanish tools integrate with Stripe for exactly this.
And if you sell to clients in other EU countries, remember your invoices must also reflect the VAT treatment correctly (reverse charge, OSS threshold of €10,000 for digital services). For that cross-border layer we use Quaderno, which automates VAT in 100+ countries.
We publish the rest of our guides in Spanish. If your Spanish is up to it — or your browser translates — start with our comparison of VeriFactu invoicing software and the deadlines and sanctions guide.