e-Invoice vs e-Archive: what is the difference?

The first question that confuses every business moving to electronic invoicing in Turkey is: "For this customer, do I issue an e-Invoice (e-Fatura) or an e-Archive invoice (e-Arşiv)?" Both are official, legally valid invoices — unlike a proforma, they create a real financial record. The difference is about who receives the invoice and through which channel. You must pick the right type, because the wrong one means the invoice never reaches the recipient or gets rejected. The good news: once you understand the rule, the choice becomes automatic. This article explains the difference between e-Invoice and e-Archive, which to issue when, and how to simplify the process.

First, the common ground: both are real invoices

Part of the confusion comes from both starting with "e-." Fundamentally, both are the electronic equivalent of a paper invoice; they carry the same legal validity, include VAT, create an accounting entry and are stored officially. So there is no such thing as "e-Archive is less official." Both are the same invoice — only the recipient and the delivery path differ.

What is an e-Invoice (e-Fatura)?

An e-Invoice is issued when both parties are registered in the official e-Invoice system. Think of it as a closed circuit: the invoice leaves the seller's system, passes through the tax authority's (GİB) infrastructure, and lands directly in the buyer's e-Invoice inbox. The buyer is a registered taxpayer; they see the invoice inside the system and can accept or reject it. That is why an e-Invoice is a document "from registered party to registered party" (B2B, between registered taxpayers), with delivery handled by the tax authority.

What is an e-Archive invoice (e-Arşiv)?

An e-Archive invoice is issued when the buyer is not registered in the e-Invoice system: end consumers, businesses not enrolled in e-Invoice, or non-taxpayer individuals. Here the circuit is open: the seller issues the invoice, reports it to the tax authority electronically, but delivers it to the buyer themselves — usually as a PDF by email or as a printout. So e-Archive is the invoice type you can issue "to anyone not registered"; most e-commerce and retail sales are invoiced via e-Archive.

Which do I issue, and when? Decide with one question

The decision comes down to one question: "Is the buyer registered in the e-Invoice system?" If yes, you issue an e-Invoice; if not, an e-Archive. That is why checking the buyer's registration status before invoicing (or relying on your software to check automatically) is the critical step. The cost of the wrong type is concrete: issue an e-Archive to a registered taxpayer and it will not land in their official inbox; try to issue an e-Invoice to an unregistered party and the system will not allow it. The right lookup solves both problems up front.

In addition, which businesses are required to use e-Invoice/e-Archive (turnover thresholds, sectors) is set by regulation and updated from time to time. It is best to confirm your own obligation with the current tax-authority rules or your accountant; the focus of this article is which invoice you issue day to day once you are enrolled.

How to simplify the process

What makes daily life hard is not the technical definition but the hesitation on every invoice: "did I pick the right type?" A good pre-accounting tool takes on that burden: it checks the buyer's status, suggests the right type or lets you pick manually; it captures line items, VAT and totals once, issues the invoice and stores it. That way your sales team deals with selling, not with the "e-Invoice or e-Archive" debate. Our end-to-end invoicing guide — issuing, sending, PDF, status tracking — helps as you set the process up.

Quick summary

e-Invoice and e-Archive are two electronic forms of the paper invoice, and both are fully official. The difference is the recipient: an e-Invoice runs as a closed circuit between registered taxpayers via the tax authority; an e-Archive is issued to unregistered buyers and delivered by the seller, while still being reported to the authority. The single question that decides the type is "is the buyer registered?" Once you automate that lookup and the type choice, moving to electronic invoicing becomes not a burden but a convenience that speeds up your daily work.