Italy · SDI Sending Invoices Guide

Introduction

Electronic invoicing is mandatory for all businesses in Italy. The Sistema di Interscambio (SDI) serves as the Italian government’s central hub for transmitting, validating, and delivering all electronic invoices throughout the country.

The SDI system operates using a standardized XML format called FatturaPA, which ensures all invoices contain the required information and comply with the strict validation rules established by the Italian tax authority (Agenzia delle Entrate). To ensure proper routing of invoices to the correct recipient, the SDI system uses a unique identifier called a Recipient Code, which is assigned to each registered SDI provider.

Invopop simplifies SDI integration by allowing you to work with GOBL format instead of XML, providing synchronous validation before submission, and offering a simple API integration with automatic handling of SDI notifications and status updates. For receiving invoices through SDI, see our companion guide: Italy - SDI: Receiving Invoices.

Setup

Connect the SDI Italy app

Navigate to Configuration → Apps
Locate SDI Italy in the app discovery list
Tap Connect to activate

The initial connection requires no configuration for sending invoices.

Configure sending workflow

SDI does not have a sandbox environment. When sandbox mode is selected, Invopop’s third-party submission service, A-Cube, simulates a response from SDI.

SDI send invoice workflow

Signs and converts the GOBL document into the FatturaPA XML format and then sends it to SDI.

SDI send invoice workflow

Signs and converts the GOBL document into the FatturaPA XML format and then sends it to SDI.

Copy and paste into a new Empty Invoice workflow code view.

Example SDI send invoice workflow with states

{
  "name": "SDI send invoice",
  "description": "Generate and issue an invoice through SDI",
  "schema": "bill/invoice",
  "steps": [
    {
      "id": "1a692ae0-cd12-11ef-998c-e97f18c9212e",
      "name": "Set State",
      "provider": "silo.state",
      "summary": "Set state to `processing`{.state .processing}",
      "config": {
        "state": "processing"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "1855b430-cd12-11ef-998c-e97f18c9212e",
      "name": "Sign Envelope",
      "provider": "silo.close"
    },
    {
      "id": "2042f860-cd12-11ef-998c-e97f18c9212e",
      "name": "Send to SDI (Italy)",
      "provider": "sdi-it.send",
      "summary": "Sandbox · Accepted by PA (Notifica esito)",
      "config": {
        "environment": "sandbox",
        "response": "NE"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "236965b0-cd12-11ef-998c-e97f18c9212e",
      "name": "Generate PDF",
      "provider": "pdf",
      "summary": "Italian",
      "config": {
        "date_format": "%Y-%m-%d",
        "locale": "it",
        "logo_height": 40
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "2b6db450-cd12-11ef-998c-e97f18c9212e",
      "name": "Set State",
      "provider": "silo.state",
      "summary": "Set state to `sent`{.state .sent}",
      "config": {
        "state": "sent"
      }
    }
  ],
  "rescue": [
    {
      "id": "2d5d7660-cd12-11ef-998c-e97f18c9212e",
      "name": "Set State",
      "provider": "silo.state",
      "summary": "Set state to `error`{.state .error}",
      "config": {
        "state": "error"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Before starting, review the workflows guide to understand the general setup process.

In Console, create a new workflow and choose Empty Invoice workflow as the base. Then add the following steps:

Set State - To “Processing”.
Sign Envelope - Signs the GOBL document preventing further modifications.
Send to SDI (Italy) - Generates the FatturaPA XML and sends it to SDI. Upon success, the XML file is attached to the invoice entry. If sandbox is chosen as the environment, the simulated response from SDI must be set.
Set State - To “Sent”.

In the Error Handling section, add a Set State step with the state set to "Error" to capture and flag failed imports.

This is the minimal workflow with state handling required to automate the reception and visualization of invoices received through SDI. You may expand it with additional steps such as storing a backup copy, notifying clients, or integrating the documents into an ERP system.

Sending Invoices

Invopop uses the GOBL FatturaPA library to process conversions. When creating invoices for SDI, you need to:

Set the regime field to IT in your GOBL invoice
Add the it-sdi-v1 addon to enable Italian-specific validations and extensions

Detailed information about the SDI-specific extensions and validations can be found in:

Example invoices are provided below, or you can use the GOBL Builder to create custom invoices.

How the Send step works

This step generates the FatturaPA XML and sends it to SDI through our integration partner. Upon successful completion, the XML file is attached to the invoice entry. The SDI service usually responds within seconds but may take up to 24 hours. While waiting, this step remains in a Queued state.

When the Send step completes, it returns one of three results:

OK if successful
KO for unrecoverable errors
SKIP if the invoice was already sent

Example Invoices

B2C Standard Invoice

SDI B2C Invoice

{
  "$schema": "https://gobl.org/draft-0/envelope",
  "head": {
    "uuid": "8a51fd30-2a27-11ee-be56-0242ac120002",
    "dig": {
      "alg": "sha256",
      "val": "0444abdd6581a1523df9db5d2ab9c4acc4032a839524adfaf044fa5427061d86"
    }
  },
  "doc": {
    "$schema": "https://gobl.org/draft-0/bill/invoice",
    "$regime": "IT",
    "$addons": [
      "it-sdi-v1"
    ],
    "uuid": "0190a63a-1a80-7e1e-a868-08c7859b6470",
    "type": "standard",
    "series": "FT",
    "code": "020",
    "issue_date": "2024-07-12",
    "currency": "EUR",
    "tax": {
      "prices_include": "VAT",
      "ext": {
        "it-sdi-document-type": "TD01",
        "it-sdi-format": "FPR12"
      }
    },
    "supplier": {
      "name": "Company Name S.r.l.",
      "tax_id": {
        "country": "IT",
        "code": "12345678903"
      },
      "addresses": [
        {
          "num": "102",
          "street": "Via California",
          "locality": "Palermo",
          "region": "PA",
          "code": "33213",
          "country": "IT"
        }
      ],
      "registration": {
        "capital": "50000.00",
        "currency": "EUR",
        "office": "RM",
        "entry": "123456"
      },
      "ext": {
        "it-sdi-fiscal-regime": "RF01"
      }
    },
    "customer": {
      "name": "Monica Bellucci",
      "tax_id": {
        "country": "IT"
      },
      "identities": [
        {
          "key": "it-fiscal-code",
          "code": "RSSGNN60R30H501U"
        }
      ],
      "addresses": [
        {
          "num": "23",
          "street": "Via dei Mille",
          "locality": "Firenze",
          "region": "FI",
          "code": "00100",
          "country": "IT"
        }
      ]
    },
    "lines": [
      {
        "i": 1,
        "quantity": "1",
        "item": {
          "name": "Cleaning services",
          "price": "125.00"
        },
        "sum": "125.00",
        "taxes": [
          {
            "cat": "VAT",
            "rate": "standard",
            "percent": "22.0%"
          }
        ],
        "total": "125.00"
      }
    ],
    "totals": {
      "sum": "125.00",
      "tax_included": "22.54",
      "total": "102.46",
      "taxes": {
        "categories": [
          {
            "code": "VAT",
            "rates": [
              {
                "key": "standard",
                "base": "102.46",
                "percent": "22.0%",
                "amount": "22.54"
              }
            ],
            "amount": "22.54"
          }
        ],
        "sum": "22.54"
      },
      "tax": "22.54",
      "total_with_tax": "125.00",
      "payable": "125.00"
    }
  }
}

B2B Invoice

SDI B2B Invoice

{
    "$schema": "https://gobl.org/draft-0/envelope",
    "head": {
        "uuid": "8a51fd30-2a27-11ee-be56-0242ac120002",
        "dig": {
            "alg": "sha256",
            "val": "2b18783af475c77b4cdb71836d64b31d3044588601a164c019b3c71f17add07b"
        }
    },
    "doc": {
        "$schema": "https://gobl.org/draft-0/bill/invoice",
        "$regime": "IT",
        "$addons": [
            "it-sdi-v1"
        ],
        "uuid": "3aea7b56-59d8-4beb-90bd-f8f280d852a0",
        "type": "standard",
        "series": "SAMPLE",
        "code": "002",
        "issue_date": "2023-05-21",
        "currency": "EUR",
        "tax": {
            "prices_include": "VAT",
            "ext": {
                "it-sdi-document-type": "TD01",
                "it-sdi-format": "FPR12"
            }
        },
        "supplier": {
            "name": "Hotel California",
            "tax_id": {
                "country": "IT",
                "code": "12345678903"
            },
            "addresses": [
                {
                    "num": "102",
                    "street": "Via California",
                    "locality": "Palermo",
                    "region": "PA",
                    "code": "33213",
                    "country": "IT"
                }
            ],
            "registration": {
                "capital": "50000.00",
                "currency": "EUR",
                "office": "RM",
                "entry": "123456"
            },
            "ext": {
                "it-sdi-fiscal-regime": "RF01"
            }
        },
        "customer": {
            "name": "Mela S.r.l.",
            "tax_id": {
                "country": "IT",
                "code": "13029381004"
            },
            "inboxes": [
                {
                    "key": "it-sdi-code",
                    "code": "M5UXCR5"
                }
            ],
            "addresses": [
                {
                    "num": "23",
                    "street": "Via dei Mille",
                    "locality": "Firenze",
                    "region": "FI",
                    "code": "00100",
                    "country": "IT"
                }
            ]
        },
        "lines": [
            {
                "i": 1,
                "quantity": "1",
                "item": {
                    "name": "Tassa di Soggiorno",
                    "price": "1.00"
                },
                "sum": "1.00",
                "taxes": [
                    {
                        "cat": "VAT",
                        "rate": "exempt",
                        "ext": {
                            "it-sdi-exempt": "N4"
                        }
                    }
                ],
                "total": "1.00"
            },
            {
                "i": 2,
                "quantity": "1",
                "item": {
                    "name": "Camera Matrimoniale",
                    "price": "125.00"
                },
                "sum": "125.00",
                "taxes": [
                    {
                        "cat": "VAT",
                        "rate": "intermediate",
                        "percent": "10.0%"
                    }
                ],
                "total": "125.00"
            }
        ],
        "totals": {
            "sum": "126.00",
            "tax_included": "11.36",
            "total": "114.64",
            "taxes": {
                "categories": [
                    {
                        "code": "VAT",
                        "rates": [
                            {
                                "key": "exempt",
                                "ext": {
                                    "it-sdi-exempt": "N4"
                                },
                                "base": "1.00",
                                "amount": "0.00"
                            },
                            {
                                "key": "intermediate",
                                "base": "113.64",
                                "percent": "10.0%",
                                "amount": "11.36"
                            }
                        ],
                        "amount": "11.36"
                    }
                ],
                "sum": "11.36"
            },
            "tax": "11.36",
            "total_with_tax": "126.00",
            "payable": "126.00"
        }
    }
}

B2B Invoice with Additional Fields

SDI B2B Invoice with additional fields

{
  "$schema": "https://gobl.org/draft-0/bill/invoice",
  "$regime": "IT",
  "$addons": [
    "it-sdi-v1"
  ],
  "$tags": [
    "freelance"
  ],
  "uuid": "0190c0ec-8109-756b-a4f0-88c4b542ab6e",
  "type": "standard",
  "series": "SAMPLE",
  "code": "001",
  "issue_date": "2023-03-02",
  "currency": "EUR",
  "tax": {
    "ext": {
      "it-sdi-document-type": "TD06",
      "it-sdi-format": "FPR12"
    }
  },
  "supplier": {
    "name": "MªF. Services",
    "tax_id": {
      "country": "IT",
      "code": "12345678903"
    },
    "people": [
      {
        "name": {
          "given": "GIANCARLO",
          "surname": "ROSSI"
        }
      }
    ],
    "addresses": [
      {
        "num": "1",
        "street": "VIALE DELLA LIBERTÀ",
        "locality": "ROMA",
        "region": "RM",
        "code": "00100",
        "country": "IT"
      }
    ],
    "emails": [
      {
        "addr": "billing@example.com"
      }
    ],
    "telephones": [
      {
        "num": "999999999"
      }
    ],
    "registration": {
      "capital": "50000.00",
      "currency": "EUR",
      "office": "RM",
      "entry": "123456"
    },
    "ext": {
      "it-sdi-fiscal-regime": "RF02"
    }
  },
  "customer": {
    "name": "MARIO LEONI",
    "tax_id": {
      "country": "IT",
      "code": "09876543217"
    },
    "people": [
      {
        "name": {
          "prefix": "Dott.",
          "given": "MARIO",
          "surname": "LEONI"
        }
      }
    ],
    "inboxes": [
      {
        "key": "it-sdi-code",
        "code": "ABCDEF1"
      }
    ],
    "addresses": [
      {
        "num": "32",
        "street": "VIALE DELI LAVORATORI",
        "locality": "FIRENZE",
        "region": "FI",
        "code": "50100",
        "country": "IT"
      }
    ],
    "emails": [
      {
        "addr": "leoni@mario.com"
      }
    ]
  },
  "lines": [
    {
      "i": 1,
      "quantity": "20",
      "item": {
        "name": "Development services",
        "price": "90.00",
        "unit": "h"
      },
      "sum": "1800.00",
      "discounts": [
        {
          "reason": "Special discount",
          "percent": "10%",
          "amount": "180.00"
        }
      ],
      "taxes": [
        {
          "cat": "VAT",
          "rate": "standard",
          "percent": "22.0%"
        }
      ],
      "total": "1620.00"
    },
    {
      "i": 2,
      "quantity": "1",
      "item": {
        "name": "Special Untaxed Work",
        "price": "100.00",
        "unit": "h"
      },
      "sum": "100.00",
      "taxes": [
        {
          "cat": "VAT",
          "rate": "exempt",
          "ext": {
            "it-sdi-exempt": "N2.2",
            "it-sdi-vat-liability": "S"
          }
        }
      ],
      "total": "100.00"
    }
  ],
  "discounts": [
    {
      "i": 1,
      "reason": "10th year anniversary discount",
      "base": "1720.00",
      "percent": "50%",
      "amount": "860.00"
    }
  ],
  "charges": [
    {
      "i": 1,
      "reason": "10th year anniversary charge",
      "base": "1720.00",
      "percent": "10%",
      "amount": "172.00"
    }
  ],
  "payment": {
    "instructions": {
      "key": "card",
      "ext": {
        "it-sdi-payment-means": "MP08"
      }
    }
  },
  "totals": {
    "sum": "1720.00",
    "discount": "860.00",
    "charge": "172.00",
    "total": "1032.00",
    "taxes": {
      "categories": [
        {
          "code": "VAT",
          "rates": [
            {
              "key": "standard",
              "base": "1620.00",
              "percent": "22.0%",
              "amount": "356.40"
            },
            {
              "key": "exempt",
              "ext": {
                "it-sdi-exempt": "N2.2",
                "it-sdi-vat-liability": "S"
              },
              "base": "100.00",
              "amount": "0.00"
            }
          ],
          "amount": "356.40"
        }
      ],
      "sum": "356.40"
    },
    "tax": "356.40",
    "total_with_tax": "1388.40",
    "payable": "1388.40"
  }
}

Credit Note

SDI Credit Note

{
    "$schema": "https://gobl.org/draft-0/bill/invoice",
    "$regime": "IT",
    "$addons": [
        "it-sdi-v1"
    ],
    "$tags": [
        "freelance"
    ],
    "uuid": "019270f3-513e-71e2-b2e3-47f8321a09ac",
    "type": "credit-note",
    "series": "CN",
    "code": "001",
    "issue_date": "2024-10-09",
    "currency": "EUR",
    "preceding": [
        {
            "uuid": "0190c0ec-8109-756b-a4f0-88c4b542ab6e",
            "type": "standard",
            "issue_date": "2023-03-02",
            "series": "SAMPLE",
            "code": "001"
        }
    ],
    "tax": {
        "ext": {
            "it-sdi-document-type": "TD04",
            "it-sdi-format": "FPR12"
        }
    },
    "supplier": {
        "name": "MªF. Services",
        "tax_id": {
            "country": "IT",
            "code": "12345678903"
        },
        "people": [
            {
                "name": {
                    "given": "GIANCARLO",
                    "surname": "ROSSI"
                }
            }
        ],
        "addresses": [
            {
                "num": "1",
                "street": "VIALE DELLA LIBERTÀ",
                "locality": "ROMA",
                "region": "RM",
                "code": "00100",
                "country": "IT"
            }
        ],
        "registration": {
            "capital": "50000.00",
            "currency": "EUR",
            "office": "RM",
            "entry": "123456"
        },
        "ext": {
            "it-sdi-fiscal-regime": "RF02"
        }
    },
    "customer": {
        "name": "MARIO LEONI",
        "tax_id": {
            "country": "IT",
            "code": "09876543217"
        },
        "people": [
            {
                "name": {
                    "prefix": "Dott.",
                    "given": "MARIO",
                    "surname": "LEONI"
                }
            }
        ],
        "addresses": [
            {
                "num": "32",
                "street": "VIALE DELI LAVORATORI",
                "locality": "FIRENZE",
                "region": "FI",
                "code": "50100",
                "country": "IT"
            }
        ]
    },
    "lines": [
        {
            "i": 1,
            "quantity": "20",
            "item": {
                "name": "Development services",
                "price": "90.00",
                "unit": "h"
            },
            "sum": "1800.00",
            "taxes": [
                {
                    "cat": "VAT",
                    "rate": "standard",
                    "percent": "22.0%"
                }
            ],
            "total": "1800.00"
        }
    ],
    "totals": {
        "sum": "1800.00",
        "total": "1800.00",
        "taxes": {
            "categories": [
                {
                    "code": "VAT",
                    "rates": [
                        {
                            "key": "standard",
                            "base": "1800.00",
                            "percent": "22.0%",
                            "amount": "396.00"
                        }
                    ],
                    "amount": "396.00"
                }
            ],
            "sum": "396.00"
        },
        "tax": "396.00",
        "total_with_tax": "2196.00",
        "payable": "2196.00"
    }
}

FAQ

Is electronic invoicing mandatory in Italy?

How can I correct an invoice?

Why is my invoice processing taking so long?

How do I know if my invoice was delivered successfully?

Can I use the same workflow for both sending and receiving invoices?

How do I add codice fiscale and Partita IVA

Invopop handles both Italian tax identification numbers in the supplier and customer sections of invoices:

Partita IVA (VAT number): Automatically extracted from the tax_id/code field.
Codice Fiscale (fiscal code): Must be specified as an identity with the key it-fiscal-code.

Here’s an example showing both identifiers in a supplier object:

Supplier with Partita IVA and Codice Fiscale

{
    "supplier": {
        "name": "MªF. Services",
        "tax_id": {
            "country": "IT",
            "code": "12345678903"
        },
        "identities": [
            {
                "key": "it-fiscal-code",
                "code": "MRTMTT91D08F205J"
            }
        ],
    }
}

For more information on receiving invoices, see our Italy - SDI: Receiving Invoices guide.

Technical Details

SDI Response Codes and Statuses

When the SDI step processes a document, it returns detailed status codes that provide information about the response from SDI:

Code	Description
`rejected`	Notifica di scarto (NS) SDI has rejected the invoice because it contains errors.
`delivered`	Ricevuta consegna (RC) SDI has successfully delivered a B2B invoice to the recipient.
`delivered-pa`	Ricevuta consegna (RC) SDI has successfully delivered an invoice to a Public Administration (PA).
`not-delivered`	Mancata consegna (MC) SDI could not deliver the invoice to the recipient.
`not-delivered`	Attestazione trasmissione con impossibilità di recapito (AT) SDI couldn’t deliver an invoice to PA after 10 days.
`accepted-pa`	Notifica esito (NE) A PA has decided to accept an invoice (outcome EC01).
`rejected-pa`	Notifica esito (NE) A PA has decided to reject an invoice (outcome EC02).
`deadline-terms`	Notifica decorrenza termini (DT) A PA didn’t reply with acceptance or rejection within 15 days.
`invoice-error`	An error occurred during the acquisition of a notification.
`sent`	The invoice has been submitted to SDI and is awaiting a response.
`not-received`	The invoice was not received by the recipient.

Some SDI notifications (File metadati - MT, Esito committente - EC, Scarto esito committente - SE) don’t directly change the code of the invoice.

These codes map to different step results as follows:

OK Result: delivered, not-delivered, not-received, accepted-pa
KO Result: rejected, rejected-pa, invoice-error, deadline-terms
QUEUED Result: sent, delivered-pa

When a step returns QUEUED, the workflow will check again later for updates from SDI.

Getting Started

Use Cases

Feature Guides

Country Guides

Integrations

Italy · SDI Sending Invoices Guide

Introduction

Setup

SDI send invoice workflow

SDI send invoice workflow

Sending Invoices

How the Send step works

Example Invoices

FAQ

Technical Details

Getting Started

Use Cases

Feature Guides

Country Guides

Integrations

​Introduction

​Setup

SDI send invoice workflow

SDI send invoice workflow

​Sending Invoices

​How the Send step works

​Example Invoices

​FAQ

​Technical Details

Introduction

Setup

Sending Invoices

How the Send step works

Example Invoices

FAQ

Technical Details