Choosing an e-Document Integrator in Turkey: GİB and API

Which documents, one process

In Turkey, depending on its activity, a business can use these electronic documents: e-Invoice (e-Fatura), e-Archive Invoice (e-Arşiv Fatura), e-Delivery Note (e-İrsaliye), e-Ledger (e-Defter), e-Ticket (e-Bilet), e-Freelance Receipt (e-Serbest Meslek Makbuzu, e-SMM) and e-Producer Receipt (e-Müstahsil Makbuzu, e-MM). Each document has its own format and submission rule at GİB (the Turkish Revenue Administration). With a good integrator, your ERP makes a single connection and each document goes the right way.

Seven questions to ask when choosing an integrator

1. Is it on the GİB list?

A private integrator must be on GİB's official list: GİB private integrator list. You can also see the list with province and contact details on our private integrator list page. ELPO Bilişim has been on this list since 2015.

2. Does it cover all the document types you need?

Some providers offer only e-Invoice and e-Archive, so you have to look for a second provider for e-Delivery Note or e-SMM. List the documents you use now and will use soon, and ask whether all of them are in the same account and whether they are charged separately.

3. Is the ERP connection ready?

Ask whether there is a connection that works with your ERP or pre-accounting software, whether extra development fees apply, and if possible try it with a test invoice. ELPO e-Belge also works as a module inside SmartERP; the portal and the SmartERP module use the same engine.

4. Are regulatory updates included in the price?

GİB guides and the UBL-TR package (the Turkish UBL e-invoice format) change during the year. Check in the contract whether applying these changes to the system is charged separately.

5. Is a faulty document caught before it goes to GİB?

A rejection returned by GİB causes trouble afterwards; what matters is catching the error before submission. ELPO e-Belge runs each document through three checks before sending it: business rules, XSD and Schematron, and it explains the error in Turkish.

6. Where and how is the data stored?

Documents contain personal data, and under VUK 509 (Tax Procedure Law, General Communiqué No. 509) storage must be in Turkey. Ask the provider where the data is stored, whether the storage service is included in the price, and in what format the documents will be handed over when the contract ends. At ELPO, the storage service is included in the credit (kontör) price.

7. What happens on busy days?

Month-end and year-end are the days when submissions peak. Ask the provider for a written service level commitment and for how you will be informed in case of an outage.

Conclusion

Choosing an integrator is a long-term decision; switching is possible but needs planning. For the steps of a switch, see the e-Invoice integrator change guide, and for package prices, the e-Invoice prices page. For a demo, contact our team.