What an ASP actually does
You cannot connect to the FTA's e-invoicing system directly. An ASP is a company certified by the Ministry of Finance to sit between your business and the Peppol network: it takes your invoice data, converts and validates it into the PINT AE format, transmits it to your buyer's ASP, and reports a Tax Data Document to the FTA in near real time. Appointing one is mandatory before your go-live date, not optional.
What to check before you sign
- •MOF accreditation.Confirm the provider is actually on the Ministry of Finance's approved list, not just claiming compliance. Check the current ASP directory on this site, which we re-verify against the MOF list weekly.
- •Integration path. Ask exactly how it connects to your accounting or ERP system: a direct API, a file upload process, or a built-in connector your software vendor already ships. The answer changes how much implementation work falls on you.
- •Per-TRN pricing. Most ASPs price and onboard per Tax Registration Number, not per company. If you run a group with several TRNs, ask whether a group agreement is available before assuming one contract covers everything.
- •Support during your go-live window.Your go-live date is fixed by regulation, not by the provider's onboarding queue. Ask how far in advance they need you to start integration to hit your specific date.
If you choose wrong
The published rules require an accredited ASP in place by your appointment deadline, but they don't lock you into that provider forever. You can move to a different MOF-accredited ASP later. Since invoice data and integration work is provider-specific, switching still means a re-integration effort, which is the main reason to get the choice right the first time rather than treat it as low-stakes.