Monaco — French VAT by convention, PPF/PDP reform, RCI

The Principality of Monaco is neither in the European Union nor the EEA, but it forms a customs and VAT union with France under the Franco-Monégasque tax convention of 18 May 1963: French VAT at the 20% rate applies on Monégasque territory, levied under the same rules. The Direction des Services Fiscaux of the Princely Government handles local administration. Through this integration, Monégasque e-invoicing follows the trajectory of the French reform (PPF, PDP platforms) by convention. Companies are registered with the RCI (Répertoire du Commerce et de l'Industrie). The economy rests on finance, luxury tourism and the absence of personal income tax.

Regulatory timeline

• 18 May 1963 — Franco-Monégasque tax convention. The convention between France and Monaco organises a customs and VAT union: French value added tax applies in Monaco under the same rules, rates and base. The foundation of the Principality's fiscal integration.
• 1 January 1993 — European single market. Monaco, without being an EU or EEA member, is included in the Union customs territory via France (Art. 4 of the Union Customs Code). Intra-EU trade treats Monaco as French territory for VAT and customs.
• 2017 — Chorus Pro for B2G. Suppliers to the French State move to Chorus Pro (AIFE) for B2G e-invoicing; Monégasque companies invoicing the French administration enter the same scheme, by virtue of the fiscal union.
• 2020-2024 — Genesis of the French B2B reform. The 2020 Finance Act (Art. 153) then Ordinance No. 2021-1190 introduce the generalisation of B2B e-invoicing and e-reporting in France. Monaco, by convention, follows the same trajectory.
• 2024 — PPF / PDP architecture. The French reform adopts a "Y" model with the PPF (Public Invoicing Portal, now refocused on the directory and the data concentrator) and registered PDPs (Partner Dematerialisation Platforms). Core formats: Factur-X, UBL, CII (EN 16931).
• 1 September 2026 — Mandatory reception. French timeline: mandatory reception for all companies, mandatory issuance for large companies and mid-caps. The Monégasque perimeter follows the conventional application of the reform.
• 1 September 2027 — Generalised issuance. Mandatory issuance extended to SMEs and micro-enterprises. Monaco aligns with the French timeline for flows subject to French VAT.

Technical schema

The Monégasque technical schema is, for VAT, that of France: core formats Factur-X / UBL / CII (EN 16931), the PPF directory, PDP platforms, and a SIREN-compatible identifier on the French side, complemented by local RCI and NIS Monégasque identifiers.

• Factur-X (hybrid PDF/A-3 + XML CII) — the Franco-German reference format, both readable and structured; minimum profile to EN 16931. The natural target for Monégasque SMEs.
• UBL 2.1 / UN/CEFACT CII — core XML formats admitted by the French scheme, EN 16931 compliant.
• PDP (Partner Dematerialisation Platform) — private operator registered by the DGFiP, tasked with issuing, receiving and transmitting invoices and e-reporting data. A Monégasque company invoicing in French VAT goes through a PDP.
• RCI — Répertoire du Commerce et de l'Industrie, the register of Monégasque companies kept by the Directorate of Economic Development. Local registration identifier (e.g. RCI 23 S 01234).
• VAT no. FR prefix — Monaco has no own country prefix for intra-EU VAT: Monégasque taxable persons use an FR number assigned in the French system, a direct consequence of the VAT union.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice
    xmlns:rsm="urn:un:unece:uncefact:data:standard:CrossIndustryInvoice:100"
    xmlns:ram="urn:un:unece:uncefact:data:standard:ReusableAggregateBusinessInformationEntity:100">
  <rsm:ExchangedDocument>
    <ram:ID>2026-0142</ram:ID>
    <ram:IssueDateTime>20260616</ram:IssueDateTime>
  </rsm:ExchangedDocument>
  <rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction>
    <ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement>
      <ram:SellerTradeParty>
        <ram:Name>Ediverse Demo Monaco SAM</ram:Name>
        <ram:SpecifiedLegalOrganization>
          <ram:ID schemeID="0009">RCI 23 S 01234</ram:ID>
        </ram:SpecifiedLegalOrganization>
        <ram:SpecifiedTaxRegistration>
          <ram:ID schemeID="VA">FR01000000001</ram:ID>
        </ram:SpecifiedTaxRegistration>
      </ram:SellerTradeParty>
    </ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement>
    <ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement>
      <ram:InvoiceCurrencyCode>EUR</ram:InvoiceCurrencyCode>
    </ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement>
  </rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction>
</rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice>

Submission flow

The Monégasque flow mirrors the French "Y" model: the invoice transits via a PDP (issuer) that routes to the recipient's PDP, while the invoicing and e-reporting data flow up to the administration via the PPF directory and concentrator. VAT remains levied under the Franco-Monégasque convention.

┌────────────────┐    ┌──────────┐        ┌──────────┐    ┌────────────────┐
│ Supplier MC    │──> │ PDP iss. │ ─────> │ PDP rcp. │──> │ Customer FR/MC │
│ (SAM, ERP)     │    └────┬─────┘        └────┬─────┘    └────────────────┘
└────────────────┘        │ (invoice data + e-reporting) │
                          v                              v
                    ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
                    │ PPF — directory + concentrator (AIFE) │
                    │   ⇄  Direction des Services Fiscaux MC │
                    │   ⇄  DGFiP (VAT, 1963 convention)      │
                    └──────────────────────────────────────┘

For B2G towards the French State, the channel remains Chorus Pro (AIFE): Monégasque companies holding French public contracts file their EN 16931 invoices there. B2C flows and cross-border operations fall under e-reporting.

The Monégasque economy — finance and wealth management (private banks, family offices), luxury tourism (hospitality, events, the Grand Prix), real estate — generates EDI oriented more towards financial flows (SWIFT, SEPA) than logistics; VAT invoicing nonetheless follows the French scheme in full.

Validation

• Princely Government of Monaco: gouv.mc — official portal, Direction des Services Fiscaux, RCI.
• Direction des Services Fiscaux (Monaco): gouv.mc — Taxation — French VAT applied to Monaco, reporting obligations.
• impots.gouv.fr — E-invoicing reform: impots.gouv.fr — PPF/PDP timeline, core formats, directory (DGFiP).
• Registered PDP directory: PDP list (DGFiP) — platforms authorised to issue/receive.
• Chorus Pro (AIFE): chorus-pro.gouv.fr — B2G portal for invoicing the French State.
• Factur-X validator / FNFE-MPE: fnfe-mpe.org — Factur-X specifications and tools (EN 16931).

Common pitfalls

1. Monaco is neither EU nor EEA — but French VAT. Classic error: treating Monaco as a third country "export outside the EU" for VAT. For VAT and customs, Monaco is assimilated to French territory (1963 convention + Union Customs Code). A France ↔ Monaco sale is an internal operation, not an export.
2. No MC VAT prefix. There is no MC... intra-EU VAT number: Monégasque taxable persons carry an FR number. A VIES check on an MC prefix will always fail; validate the corresponding FR number.
3. RCI ≠ SIREN. The RCI (Trade and Industry Register) is the Monégasque registration, distinct from the French SIREN. In a Factur-X invoice, put the RCI in the organisation identifier and the FR VAT number separately — do not conflate the two fields.
4. Reform timeline = French timeline. The deadlines (reception 09/2026, issuance 09/2026 large/mid-caps then 09/2027 SMEs/micro) are those set by French law; any postponement by the French legislator carries over to Monaco by convention. Watch the French texts, not an autonomous Monégasque regulation.
5. Financial flows vs VAT invoicing. The Monégasque financial centre operates heavily in SWIFT/SEPA for fund movements; do not infer that invoicing escapes the French VAT scheme: a service subject to French VAT falls under e-reporting/e-invoicing just as in France.

Cross-links

• France — customs and VAT union partner; the French PPF/PDP reform applies to Monaco by convention.
• Factur-X — the hybrid core format of the French reform, applicable to Monaco.
• Chorus Pro — B2G channel for invoicing the French State.
• Liechtenstein — another micro-state in a fiscal union with a large neighbour (Switzerland), contrast with Monaco's French union.
• Andorra — Pyrenean micro-state, but with its own VAT (IGI), contrast with Monaco's integration.
• Official sources: gouv.mc, impots.gouv.fr, chorus-pro.gouv.fr.