POS: what was supposed to change on September 1, 2026 in France… and what finally remains the same
- Jul 13
- 3 min read
You may already know this? In France, a new obligation was due to come into effect on September 1, 2026 for companies using a cash register software.
On that date, the certificate of conformity provided directly by the publisher was to disappear in favor of a certification issued by an accredited body.
Ultimately, the reform was abandoned. The 2026 French budget law reinstated the option for software publishers to self-certify their software's compliance. Therefore, companies do not have to change their solutions or obtain mandatory external certification before September.
However, the obligations concerning point-of-sale software remain in force.
Key takeaways - France
No new obligation as of September 1, 2026.
A French company concerned must always use compliant cash register software or system.
Compliance can be justified by a certificate issued by an accredited body OR an individual attestation from the publisher.
The obligation mainly concerns French VAT-registered businesses that collect payments from individuals.
E-commerce businesses may also be affected.
If no supporting documentation is provided, the fine can reach €7,500 per software or system concerned.
Why was a reform planned?
As a reminder, in France since 2018, certain VAT-registered companies that record payments from their individual customers with a digital cash register machine or software must use a solution that respects four principles: inalterability, security, retention and archiving of data.
The aim is, in particular, to prevent a recorded recipe from being subsequently deleted or modified without leaving a trace.
The French 2025 Finance Act strengthened the system by stipulating the elimination of the certificate issued by the publisher in favor of a certification issued by an accredited body. This requirement was to become fully applicable on September 1, 2026.
The law has finally reversed this measure...
What will remain mandatory in 2026 and which companies are affected?
Since February 2026, the French companies concerned can once again demonstrate the compliance of their software in two ways:
with a certificate issued by an accredited body;
or with an individual certificate provided by the software publisher.
If you are already using a compliant software and have a valid certificate from your publisher, you do not need to change your solution.
The scheme is primarily aimed at businesses:
subject to VAT in France;
carrying out sales or services to individuals;
using software or a system to record their payments.
A company working with both individuals and professionals may therefore be affected.
Conversely, some companies are excluded from the scheme, in particular those which exclusively carry out B2B operations which must be invoiced or those benefiting from the VAT exemption scheme.
Note if:
You use an ERP system that manages sales management, inventory, invoicing, accounting, cash receipts…
Your finance stack consists of several interconnected applications.
Only the cash register or payment processing function then needs to meet the specific compliance requirements.
What document should be kept to be compliant?
When using the publisher's certificate, your company must have a document that actually corresponds to the software used and its version.
In particular, check the following:
the name of the software;
the version used;
publisher identification;
and, where applicable, license information.
Obviously, a major software update may require a new certificate if it modifies functions related to the immutability, security, preservation or archiving of data.
The abandonment of the September reform does not, however, eliminate the existing sanctions.
A company that falls within the scope of the scheme and cannot justify the conformity of its software is liable to a fine of €7,500 per software or cash register system concerned, with an obligation to regularize its situation.
No revolution in September, but a useful check
Companies that had anticipated French mandatory external certification by September 1, 2026 can breathe. This deadline has been removed. However, the compliance rules remain applicable.
The return to work in September can therefore be an opportunity to carry out a simple check: identify the tools that actually record the receipts and ask their publisher for the corresponding proof if you have not already done so.
Blendy assists business leaders in organizing their accounting and financial tools. The team can help you clarify the flow of information between different applications and identify key accounting and tax considerations.
Sources:
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