To check a Peppol ID, you search for the company in a Peppol lookup tool using its scheme code and identifier, for example 0208: followed by a Belgian enterprise number, and confirm that the entry exists, belongs to the right company and can receive invoices. It takes a minute per customer, and it is the best way to avoid an e-invoice that never arrives.
This guide explains what a Peppol ID is made of, how to look one up step by step, and what a lookup can and cannot tell you.
What a Peppol ID looks like
A Peppol ID identifies a company on the Peppol network, much like a phone number in a telephone network. It has two parts, separated by a colon:
- A scheme code that says which kind of number follows
- The identifier itself, such as a company registration number or VAT number
Some scheme codes from the official Peppol code list (EAS):
| Scheme | What the identifier is |
|---|---|
| 0208 | Belgian enterprise number (numéro d'entreprise / ondernemingsnummer) |
| 9925 | Belgian VAT number |
| 0106 | Dutch Chamber of Commerce number (KvK) |
| 9930 | German VAT number |
| 0204 | German Leitweg-ID, used for public-sector buyers |
| 9932 | United Kingdom VAT number |
| 0088 | Global Location Number (GLN) |
Source: Peppol BIS Billing 3.0, Electronic Address Scheme code list, checked October 27, 2026.
A Belgian example from the tax administration itself: FPS Finance uses 0208:0308357159 as the example of its own registration.
Why Belgium makes it easier
According to FPS Finance, every company registered on Peppol in Belgium must be registered at least with its enterprise number from the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, under scheme 0208. Peppol service providers are contractually obliged to do this. That is why the official FAQ says you should not need to ask your customers for their Peppol ID: by default you can deliver to the enterprise number. Other identifiers, such as the VAT number, IBAN or GLN, can be used in addition if both sides agree.
Source: FPS Finance FAQ on Peppol, checked October 27, 2026. For the wider rules in Belgium, see Peppol E-Invoicing in Belgium: What a Small Business Has to Do.
How to check a Peppol ID, step by step
- Find the right identifier. For a Belgian customer, look up the enterprise number in the public Crossroads Bank for Enterprises search. It is a 10-digit number, often written with dots, such as 0308.357.159.
- Write it in Peppol form. Put the scheme code in front and drop the dots and spaces:
0208:0308357159. - Search for it. FPS Finance points to Lookup Peppol, the lookup run by OpenPeppol, where you search by company name or by the full identifier. The public Peppol Directory also lists registered recipients and can be searched the same way.
- Compare the entry. Check that the name and country match your customer. A group with several companies can have several entries, and the one you invoice must be the legal entity on the invoice.
- Look at what it accepts. The result lists the document types the participant can receive. For invoices, you are looking for the Peppol BIS Billing invoice and credit note types.
- Store it on the customer record. Save scheme and identifier in your invoicing software, so the next invoice goes to the same address without another lookup.
What a lookup does not tell you
- Whether the company can send. FPS Finance points out that Lookup Peppol shows who can receive documents, not who can send them.
- Whether the data on your invoice is right. Delivery to the correct ID does not fix a wrong VAT number or a missing purchase order reference.
- Whether the entry is current in real time. Directories are updated by service providers. If a customer has just switched software, a new registration can take time to appear.
- Delivery speed. According to FPS Finance, most invoices arrive within minutes to a couple of hours; if a delay lasts more than a working day, ask your software supplier.
When the ID is not found
- Check the format. Dots, spaces, a missing leading zero or the wrong scheme code are typical reasons a search returns nothing.
- Try the company name. The company may be registered under another scheme, such as its VAT number.
- Ask the customer which Peppol provider or software they use. Some are still setting up.
- Agree a fallback. For Belgium, the FPS Finance FAQ says that if a customer cannot receive via Peppol yet, you may use another secure method the customer agrees to for electronic invoices.
Checking Peppol IDs in CRM Business Hub
In CRM Business Hub, the customer form has an e-invoicing section where you store the Peppol ID, the scheme and the preferred format. A Check button next to the Peppol ID verifies it on the customer record before you send. Supported schemes for your own seller ID include 0208, 9930, 0204, 0088 and 0106.
When you send an invoice from the e-Invoice tab via the Peppol network in Peppol BIS Billing 3.0, the invoice shows whether it is queued, sending, delivered or failed. If no Peppol ID is stored, the network tries the customer's VAT ID. More on the e-invoicing features, and on the network in general in What Is Peppol?.
FAQ
How do I check a Peppol ID?
Write the identifier with its scheme code, for example 0208 and the Belgian enterprise number, and search for it in Lookup Peppol or the public Peppol Directory. Then check that name and country match.
What is the Peppol ID of a Belgian company?
By default it is scheme 0208 followed by the 10-digit enterprise number, without dots. Companies can be registered under other IDs as well.
Does a Peppol lookup result mean the company can send e-invoices?
No. According to FPS Finance, Lookup Peppol shows who can receive via Peppol, not who can send.
Why can't I find a company on Peppol?
Usually because of the format, the wrong scheme code or because the company is registered under another identifier. Search by name, or ask the customer which provider they use.
