Published on October 20, 2026 · The mitza.es team
If you run a shop, a bar or a restaurant, your POS terminal is where almost all of your invoicing goes through, and also the one that raises the most questions about VeriFactu: does it affect receipts? Does every sale have to be sent to the tax authorities? What happens when the internet goes down? This guide answers with what the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) says in its frequently asked questions, with no jargon. If you need the big picture, we have our guide to what VeriFactu is.
Does my POS system have to comply with VeriFactu?
The regulation affects the computer programs and systems used to issue invoices, and the receipts from a POS terminal are simplified invoices. So if you invoice with a computerized POS system, your system is within scope, provided you're also not in the SII and your tax domicile isn't in the Basque Country or Navarre. Anyone who issues all their invoices by hand, with no computer system at all, is outside it.
This means the obligation to adapt falls on the system that issues the receipt, not on the person taking the payment. In practice, it's almost always solved by updating the POS software or switching to one that complies.
What changes on the receipt
- QR code. QR codes are also added to simplified invoices, so the customer can check that their purchase is on file with the Tax Agency.
- Verifiable statement. In VERI*FACTU mode, the receipt must carry the statement “Factura verificable en la sede electrónica de la AEAT” (in English, “Invoice verifiable on the AEAT's online portal”) or “VERI*FACTU”.
- No after-the-fact edits. An issued receipt isn't modified: a mistake or a return is recorded with a correction or a cancellation, not by deleting the sale.
Does every sale have to be sent to the tax authorities right away?
It depends on the mode. In VERI*FACTU mode, submission to the Tax Agency is how the system normally works, and the Agency makes clear that it must be immediate, because the customer's QR check requires it. Waiting until you close the till to send all the receipts at once isn't acceptable. In non-verifiable mode, the system doesn't send continuously, but it must be able to submit the records when they are requested, and an electronic signature is then required.
What happens if the internet or the Tax Agency's portal goes down
The Tax Agency establishes that an incident must not interrupt invoicing. If the connection or the reception fails, the POS keeps issuing receipts and the records are sent afterwards, with periodic retries and flagging the incident until it is resolved. If no reception response arrives, they have to be sent again. For a bar with a full terrace on a Saturday, this is what matters: your POS has to be ready to work offline and to recover the submissions on its own, without anyone having to do it by hand.
The AEAT's free application doesn't work for receipts
It's a common mix-up. The Tax Agency's free application doesn't let you issue simplified invoices, that is, till receipts, because in it every invoice requires a recipient. It works for a freelancer (autónomo) who issues a few full invoices, but not for a shop or a bar. If you want to see when it does fit, we explain it in our guide to VeriFactu software and free options.
What to ask your POS provider
- Does their software comply with the regulation, and does it come with a responsible declaration by the manufacturer?
- Which mode does it offer: VERI*FACTU, non-verifiable or both?
- Does the receipt include the QR code and, where applicable, the verifiable statement?
- What does the POS do when there's no connection, and how does it recover pending submissions?
- How are returns, exchanges and cancellations handled?
- If I have several terminals, do they all comply and send on time?
- Is the update included in the price or do I have to pay for a new version?
- Can I take my data with me if I switch POS systems?
Ask for the answers in writing. If the provider can't give you a responsible declaration, the safest thing is not to buy that equipment.
If you also sell online
Many shops combine a physical store with online sales, and that's where things get complicated: two channels, two systems and a single numbering sequence that has to add up. It's worth deciding which system issues each invoice and how orders, credit notes and returns are linked. If you're thinking about an online store, it's a good time to get this settled. And if you're interested in accepting payments from a phone in the shop, our blog has a rundown of NFC payments and Bizum Pay in physical stores.
Dates: when you need to have it ready
The legal dates in force are January 1, 2027 for companies that pay Corporate Tax and July 1, 2027 for everyone else, including freelancers, with a delay to October 2028 announced but still pending approval. You'll find all the detail in our article on the VeriFactu delay and in the digital compliance calendar.
Frequently asked questions about POS systems and VeriFactu
Are restaurant and bar receipts affected too?
Yes, if they are issued with a computer system. Receipts are simplified invoices and are subject to the regulation with the same requirements as any other invoice.
Do I have to change my POS system?
Not always. If your manufacturer adapts the software and your equipment is compatible, an update will be enough. Replace it only if it can't guarantee compliance.
What if the power goes out?
The Tax Agency leaves it up to the business owner to decide whether to keep invoicing, but the data must be sent as soon as service is restored.
Do I still have to keep the register of issued invoices?
VeriFactu doesn't replace other record-keeping obligations. The Tax Agency points out that the VAT register of issued invoices (libro registro de facturas emitidas) remains mandatory for those who must keep it, so check with your tax advisor.