Digital certificate for electronic invoicing in the DR

In the Dominican Republic, electronic invoicing will soon be mandatory. And yes, digital transformation is here to stay. If you are an entrepreneur or authorized to issue invoices on behalf of your company, this article is for you.

Today we will explain clearly, simply, and straightforwardly:

• What is the deadline for implementing electronic invoicing?
• How is it possible to issue electronic invoices with a digital certificate?
• Who needs it?
• How to obtain it, step by step.

And most importantly: What happens if you don’t have it before the deadline?

What is a digital certificate?

In the field of electronic invoicing, a digital certificate is, in simple terms, a secure file that contains your name, your ID or passport number, and your email address, and allows you to digitally sign invoices. In other words, it is a kind of digital signature with “legal superpowers.”

Please note! It is very important to keep these two situations in mind:

• If you are Dominican, it is linked to your ID card.
• If you are a foreigner, it is linked to your passport.

The certificate for electronic invoicing in the DR is not an option: it is the only way for the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII) to validate that it is really you who is signing your company’s electronic invoices.

Who needs the digital certificate for electronic invoicing the DR?

Although invoices are issued in the name of the company (RNC), they must be signed by an individual authorized by the DGII.

In other words: If you are responsible for managing invoices on behalf of your company, you need a Digital Certificate for Tax Procedures for Individuals or digital certificate for electronic invoicing in the DR. Without this document, the invoice will not be accepted.

What is it for?

The main function of the Digital Certificate for Tax Procedures is to ensure that electronic invoices are recognized, validated, and auditable by the DGII. If you don’t have it, you run the risk of your invoice being rejected… and no one wants that headache with taxes and penalties.

Official deadline

The schedule for adopting electronic invoicing in the Dominican Republic is being implemented progressively, depending on the segment to which the taxpayer belongs. Remember that in the Dominican Republic, there are Large Local and Medium Taxpayers on the one hand, and Small, Micro, and Unclassified Taxpayers on the other.

• Large National Taxpayers: Their deadline was May 14, 2024.
• Large Local and Medium Taxpayers: May 15, 2025, was initially set as the deadline; however, the DGII granted a six-month extension, until November 15, 2025, for those already in the process of implementation.
• Small, Micro, and Unclassified: They have until May 15, 2026.

At this point in time, it is the second segment, Large Local and Medium Taxpayers, who must hurry up and find a Digital Certificate for Tax Processes or a certificate for electronic invoices in the Dominican Republic.

What happens if you don’t comply?

The above are the deadlines for complying with the mandatory use of electronic invoicing with a digital certificate. After that date, issuing invoices without a certificate may not only entail risks, but will also be completely illegal and you may face significant penalties.

This is not a game: the law provides for fines, temporary closures, and even criminal consequences. The DGII is moving forward steadily in this digitization process. The best thing to do is to get ahead of the game and be prepared to avoid surprises by obtaining a certificate for electronic invoices in the DR.

How to obtain your certificate for electronic invoicing in the DR?

Here’s the good news: the process is 100% online and easy if you do it with Viafirma, the first Certification Authority Authorized by Indotel in the Dominican Republic in 2006.

All you have to do is apply for the Digital Certificate for Tax Procedures on their website and follow these steps:

• Application form. Fill in your basic details such as name, ID number, email address, phone number, and a secure password.
• Identity verification. Scan a QR code, upload a photo of your ID (ID card or passport), and perform the life test (yes, you’ll have to move your head following instructions!).
• Sign the contract. You will receive a code by email, which you must scan into the platform… and that’s it! Contract signed.
• Pay for the service. The certificate costs RD$ 2,360 (taxes included) and is valid for 1 year. You can pay by card or bank transfer.
• Downloading the certificate. Once the process has been validated, you will receive your certificate to use in your invoicing software.

Electronic invoicing is here

Don’t let the date take you by surprise: request your Digital Certificate with Viafirma today and ensure that your invoices have full legal backing from the DGII.

Easy signature, secure signature, digital signature.