SII or Immediate Information Supply. This is the acronym for the tax control system developed by the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT). At easyap, specialists in finance and technology, we see this as an essential issue, as it is closely related to our field and our world. The best example of this is the wealth of content you can find on our blog.
However, SII and AEAT are two concepts that continue to raise many questions for entrepreneurs and financial managers of all types of businesses. That is why we want to write this new article, which compiles the frequently asked questions about the SII (AEAT) that are often found on Internet search engines. And, of course, we also provide the corresponding answers to all of them.
What is the SII?
We already mentioned this at the beginning of this text, when we defined what the acronym SII stands for. However, if there is a frequently asked question about the SII (from the AEAT), it is precisely this: what is the SII? Technically, the acronym SII stands for Immediate Supply of Information (SII) and is the VAT processing system developed by the Tax Agency (AEAT).
The fact is that between 2023 and 2025, digital reporting of VAT on transactions will be mandatory for all Spanish companies. This goes hand in hand with the fact that electronic invoicing will be mandatory by law for all domestic companies. Furthermore, it is still the way to replace the old VAT record books.
For more information on how the SII works, simply visit the the Spanish Tax Agency's (AEAT) website. There you can find, download, and consult a large number of SII FAQs that the AEAT itself has officially answered. Not only that, but it also updates the answers to questions that need to be adapted temporarily and/or legally.
What is the AEAT?
Since we are referring to both the AEAT or Tax Agency, it is also worth explaining exactly what this body does. On the one hand, the acronym AEAT comes from State Tax Administration Agency, so most of the population commonly refers to it as the Tax Agency. It is also the public body responsible for controlling, managing, and supervising the various taxes paid in Spain.
The AEAT was created in 1990 to ensure that all citizens were up to date with their respective tax payments. To this end, this public body is responsible for applying the corresponding tax system. It thus seeks to enforce the constitutional principle that requires all taxpayers to contribute to public expenditure in accordance with their income and economic resources. The SII is a system that helps to achieve this, specifically by handling VAT payments.
When is it mandatory to file SII?
As we pointed out at the beginning, the obligation to upload invoices to the SII will become effective within the next two years. However, according to the AEAT (Spanish Tax Agency), the following are currently required to do so:
- Large companies that have had a turnover exceeding €6,010,121.04 in the previous year.
- VAT groups registered with REDEME (Monthly VAT Refund Register).
In turn, those companies that wish to do so may do so voluntarily from their census declaration.
What information must be uploaded to the AEAT's SII?
According to the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT), taxpayers who opt for the SII are required to report the invoicing records contained in the following registers:
- Electronic electronic invoices that you have issued.
- Electronic electronic invoices that you received.
- The company's investment assets that may have an impact on its turnover and are therefore recorded in the Investment Assets ledger.
- Intra-Community transactions subject to VAT intra-Community transactions that are subject to VAT and are therefore recorded in the Register of Certain Intra-Community Transactions.
In this way, companies that are subject to VAT will be sending the AEAT all the details of their invoicing. In turn, the SII itself will be configured with all this information, which is recorded in the traditional registers, essential in accounting.
How many days do I have to upload an invoice to the SII?
It depends on whether we are talking about invoices received or invoices issued. In the case of invoices that you issue, you will have a period of four calendar days from the date of issue to register it, except in the case of invoices issued by the recipient or a third party. In that case, the deadline will be eight calendar days. In any case, the supply must be made before the 16th day of the month following the month in which the VAT became chargeable.
In turn, for invoices received, the deadline is four calendar daysfrom the date on which the invoice is recorded in the accounts. At the same time, it must be before the 16th of the month following the settlement period in which the transactions corresponding to that invoice have been recorded.
In turn, for all other invoices that can be recorded in any of the accounting books (for example, corrective invoices) mentioned above:
- For intra-Community transactions, the deadline shall be four calendar days from the date of issue or receipt of the invoice.
- For transactions involving investment property, it will suffice to submit it within the deadline of the last settlement period of the year.
How can I voluntarily opt into the SII?
To qualify for the SII, you need two things. On the one hand, you can indicate that you wish to join at any time on your census declaration by checking boxes 143 and 532 on form 036. Likewise, your company will be included from the day after the end of the settlement period in which the option was exercised. In other words, if you register on April 25, your registration will officially begin on June 1.
The other requirement you will have, especially for your convenience, will be to integrate the SII into your billing platform. That way, you can upload all your invoices quickly, efficiently, and easily. And that's exactly where easyap can help you. We'll give you more details later on.
Do invoices also need to be sent to the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT)?
No. It will suffice to register them with the SII. What you will have to submit are the fields of the billing records specified in Royal Decree 596/2016, of December 2, which is the regulation governing everything related to the AEAT's SII.
What role does easyap play in relation to the SII?
To conclude this article on frequently asked questions about the AEAT's SII, we would simply like to highlight how we can help your business in this regard.
At easyap, based on more than 20 years of experience with finance and technology, we developed the easyei portal. Here you can consolidate the sending of your digital billing information to the Tax Agency.
In turn, to implement it it doesn't matter what ERP or accounting system you use. The easyap solution maps and organizes your invoice information according to the requirements of the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT). In addition, we adapt to your information model. With the solution we offer, you can enjoy some of the following benefits:
- We customize the software based on the requirements of the relevant tax agency.
- The mapping and logical adaptation of coding is in accordance with the requirements of the relevant tax agency.
- You can check online the information you have reported to the relevant tax agency.
- By outsourcing this management optimizes resources.
- You transform a fixed cost into a variable one, as with our solution you pay for each transaction.
- You are not dependent on your clients' accounting systems and/or any legal changes that may occur.
And that's not to mention many other advantages in terms of operability and convenience for your organization's teams, who can use it in their day-to-day work. Legal, financial, human resources departments... Benefits that we can't wait to tell you about. That's why we're leaving you our contact details our contact details. We and digital transformation of your business are waiting for you.
