Views of public accountants and financial advisors on e-invoice practices: An empirical study

Technological advancements, increasing competition between corporations, technological change and transformation caused by globalization have not only affected production processes but also changed their invoicing processes. Invoicing processes have gone through change and transformation in order to save costs and time. Paper invoices have been replaced by electronic invoices. E-invoice might be defined as transfer of invoicing process between purchaser and seller from paper to electronic setting as a result of selling a product or providing a service. Thus, invoices are sent to purchasers, kept and declared by purchasers on electronic setting. Public accountants are undoubtedly one of the most significant groups of e-applications users. Therefore, views of public accountants on e-invoice are quite significant. The goal of this study is to identify the problems encountered by public accountants and financial advisor with the transition to e-invoice system and put forward suggestions for solution for a more efficient system. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with 280 Public Accountants Financial Advisors registered at Sakarya Chamber of Public Accountants Financial Advisors. According to the study results, financial advisors have reported that they are faced with a heavier work load as tax payers have not required necessary e-invoice training, adding that their stationery costs have increased while that of tax payers has decreased with e-invoice practice. Invoices issued for inter-city trade are sent to the purchasers via mail and financial advisors agree that e-invoice might save costs and time.Financial advisors have also suggested that e-invoice might help prevention of tax loss and evasion and significantly reduce the risk of fake invoices.