Electronic Invoicing - CompuTécnicos

Overview

CompuTécnicos includes electronic invoicing (facturación electrónica) capabilities compliant with Colombian DIAN regulations. The system integrates with authorized electronic invoicing providers to generate, transmit, and store legally valid invoices.

Electronic invoicing is mandatory in Colombia for businesses meeting certain criteria. This feature ensures your e-commerce platform is DIAN-compliant.

Key Features

DIAN Compliance

Meets all Colombian electronic invoicing requirements

Provider Integration

Supports Alegra and Siigo authorized providers

Automatic Generation

Invoices created automatically when orders are paid

PDF Download

Customers can download PDF invoices with CUFE code

Colombian Electronic Invoicing

Legal Requirements

In Colombia, electronic invoices must include:

DIAN-Required Elements

Supplier Information:

Legal business name
NIT (tax identification number)
Business address
Economic activity code
Tax regime

Customer Information:

Full name or business name
ID number or NIT
Email address
Billing address

Invoice Details:

Consecutive invoice number
Invoice date and time
Currency (COP)
Payment method
Payment terms

Line Items:

Product description
Quantity
Unit price
Tax rate (IVA)
Line total

Totals:

Subtotal
Total IVA
Total amount

Technical Elements:

CUFE (Código Único de Factura Electrónica)
QR code with validation URL
Digital signature
DIAN authorization number

CUFE Code

The CUFE is a unique identifier for each electronic invoice:

Purpose: Validates invoice authenticity
Format: 96-character alphanumeric string
Generation: Created by combining invoice data with cryptographic hash
Verification: Can be validated on DIAN website

The CUFE code appears at the bottom of every electronic invoice and can be used to verify the invoice’s legitimacy with DIAN.

Supported Providers

Alegra

Integration with Alegra’s electronic invoicing platform: Features:

Real-time invoice transmission to DIAN
Automatic CUFE generation
PDF invoice generation with watermark
Invoice status tracking
Customer portal access

Configuration: Set in config/factura_config.php:

'provider' => 'alegra',
'alegra' => [
    'token' => 'your_alegra_api_token',
    'email' => 'your_alegra_account_email'
]

Siigo

Integration with Siigo’s invoicing system: Features:

Complete accounting integration
Inventory sync
Customer management
Multi-document support (invoices, credit notes)
Comprehensive reporting

Configuration: Set in config/factura_config.php:

'provider' => 'siigo',
'siigo' => [
    'client_id' => 'your_client_id',
    'client_secret' => 'your_client_secret',
    'username' => 'your_username',
    'password' => 'your_password'
]

Both providers are DIAN-authorized and provide the legal guarantees required for electronic invoicing in Colombia.

Invoicing Workflow

Automatic Invoice Generation

Invoices are generated automatically:

Customer places order in the e-commerce platform
Payment is confirmed via PayPal
Order status changes to “Pagado” (Paid)
System triggers invoice generation
API call sent to configured provider (Alegra/Siigo)
Invoice is created with CUFE and transmitted to DIAN
PDF is generated and stored in the system
Customer receives email with invoice attached

Detailed Invoice Generation Process

Step 1: Order Data Collection

Gather customer information from order
Collect product details from order items
Calculate taxes (19% IVA on applicable items)
Determine payment method from PayPal transaction

Step 2: Provider API Call

Format data according to provider’s API specifications
Include authentication credentials
Send POST request to create invoice
Receive invoice ID and CUFE from provider

Step 3: DIAN Transmission

Provider validates invoice data
Generates CUFE and QR code
Transmits to DIAN for approval
Receives approval confirmation

Step 4: Storage and Delivery

PDF invoice downloaded from provider
Stored in uploads/facturas/ directory
Linked to order in database
Email sent to customer with PDF attachment
Invoice available in customer’s order history

Manual Invoice Generation

Administrators can also generate invoices manually:

Navigate to Admin → Pedidos (Orders)
Select an order in “Pagado” status or later
Click “Generar Factura” button
System creates invoice via configured provider
Invoice is immediately available for download

Use manual generation if automatic invoicing fails or if you need to regenerate an invoice with corrections.

Simulation Mode

For testing and development:

Testing Without API Calls

Enable Simulation Mode: In config/factura_config.php:

'simulate' => true

What Happens:

No actual API calls to provider
Simulated CUFE generated (fake but valid format)
PDF created with “SIMULADO” watermark
No transmission to DIAN
Useful for development and testing

Disable for Production:

'simulate' => false

Always disable simulation mode before going live!

Simulated invoices are NOT legally valid and should never be used for real transactions.

Invoice PDF Format

PDF Structure

Generated invoices include: Header:

Company logo
Company name and NIT
“FACTURA ELECTRÓNICA DE VENTA” title
Invoice number and date

Supplier Details:

Business address
Phone and email
Tax regime information

Customer Details:

Customer name
ID or NIT
Email
Billing address

Invoice Table:

Item descriptions
Quantities
Unit prices
IVA rates
Line totals

Totals Section:

Subtotal (before tax)
IVA amount
Total to pay

Footer:

CUFE code (large font)
QR code for validation
DIAN resolution number
Digital signature information
Legal disclaimer text

Downloading Invoices

Customers can download invoices: From Order History Page:

Log in to account
Go to “Mis Pedidos”
Find the paid order
Click “Descargar factura” button
PDF opens in new tab or downloads

From Email:

Invoice attached to order confirmation email
Click attachment to view/download

Customers should save invoices for warranty claims and tax purposes. They can be downloaded multiple times.

Tax Calculation

IVA (Value Added Tax)

Standard IVA rate in Colombia: 19%

IVA Calculation Details

Applicable Products:

Most computer hardware: 19% IVA
Some peripherals: 19% IVA
Software: May be exempt (0% IVA)
Services: Varies by type

Calculation:

Item Subtotal = Quantity × Unit Price
IVA Amount = Item Subtotal × 0.19
Item Total = Item Subtotal + IVA Amount

Invoice Totals:

Subtotal = Sum of all item subtotals
Total IVA = Sum of all IVA amounts
Grand Total = Subtotal + Total IVA

Example:

Product: Processor
Quantity: 2
Unit Price: $500,000
Subtotal: $1,000,000
IVA (19%): $190,000
Total: $1,190,000

Tax-Exempt Items

Some products may be exempt:

Educational books and materials
Certain medical devices
Agricultural products
Items with special IVA rates (5% or 0%)

Configure product-specific IVA rates in the product catalog. Default is 19% for all items.

Credit Notes

For returns and adjustments:

When to Issue Credit Notes

Customer returns products
Pricing error in original invoice
Product defects or damages
Order cancellation after invoicing

Credit Note Process

Identify original invoice that needs correction
Create credit note referencing original CUFE
Specify reason for credit
Generate through provider API
Transmit to DIAN for approval
Deliver to customer via email

Credit Note Requirements

Must Include:

Reference to original invoice number
Original invoice CUFE
Reason for credit
Items being credited
Credit amount
New CUFE for credit note

DIAN Rules:

Must be issued within legal timeframe
Cannot exceed original invoice amount
Requires proper justification
Affects both parties’ tax obligations

Invoice Storage and Retrieval

Storage System

Invoices are stored in multiple locations: Local Server:

Directory: uploads/facturas/
Filename: factura_[order_id]_[timestamp].pdf
Database reference in pedidos table

Provider Platform:

Available on Alegra/Siigo dashboard
Can be re-downloaded if local copy lost
Includes full invoice history

DIAN Registry:

All invoices registered with DIAN
Searchable by CUFE
Permanent legal record

Retention Period

Colombian law requires businesses to retain electronic invoices for 5 years. Ensure regular backups of invoice files.

Administration Interface

Viewing Invoices

Administrators can: View All Invoices:

Navigate to Admin → Facturas
See list of all generated invoices
Filter by date, customer, status
Download individual or batch PDFs

Invoice Details:

Order information
Customer data
Invoice status (sent, viewed, paid)
CUFE and DIAN approval status
Generation timestamp

Troubleshooting Failed Invoices

If invoice generation fails:

Check error log for API response
Verify credentials in configuration
Validate order data completeness
Retry generation after fixing issues
Contact provider support if needed

Common Invoice Generation Errors

Invalid Customer Data:

Missing email address
Invalid ID format
Incomplete billing address Solution: Update customer information and retry

Authentication Failure:

Expired API token
Incorrect credentials
Account suspended Solution: Verify credentials in config file

DIAN Rejection:

Invalid NIT format
Duplicate invoice number
Tax calculation error Solution: Check DIAN error details and correct

Provider API Error:

Service temporarily down
Rate limit exceeded
Network connectivity issue Solution: Wait and retry, or contact provider

Configuration

Setup Checklist

1. Choose Provider

Select Alegra or Siigo based on your needs

2. Get Credentials

3. Configure System

Update config/factura_config.php with credentials

4. Test Integration

Use simulation mode to test before going live

Configuration File

Edit config/factura_config.php:

return [
    // Choose provider
    'provider' => 'alegra', // or 'siigo'
    
    // Enable/disable simulation
    'simulate' => false, // true for testing
    
    // Alegra settings
    'alegra' => [
        'token' => getenv('ALEGRA_TOKEN'),
        'email' => getenv('ALEGRA_EMAIL')
    ],
    
    // Siigo settings
    'siigo' => [
        'client_id' => getenv('SIIGO_CLIENT_ID'),
        'client_secret' => getenv('SIIGO_CLIENT_SECRET'),
        'username' => getenv('SIIGO_USERNAME'),
        'password' => getenv('SIIGO_PASSWORD')
    ]
];

Use environment variables for sensitive credentials instead of hardcoding them in the config file.

Best Practices

Monitor Daily

Check that all paid orders have invoices generated

Backup Regularly

Back up invoice PDFs and database records

Test Changes

Use simulation mode when testing new features

Keep Updated

Stay current with DIAN regulation changes

Compliance Recommendations

Generate invoices within 24 hours of payment
Verify CUFE codes periodically
Maintain complete audit trail
Issue credit notes promptly for returns
Keep provider credentials secure
Monitor DIAN compliance status

Customer Experience

From the customer’s perspective:

Place order and complete payment
Receive confirmation email immediately
Invoice attached to email automatically
Can download from order history page
Verify authenticity using CUFE on DIAN website

Customers appreciate receiving invoices automatically. It builds trust and provides necessary documentation for personal or business records.

Legal Considerations

DIAN Compliance

All invoices must be transmitted to DIAN
Electronic invoices have same legal validity as paper
Must use authorized provider (Alegra, Siigo, etc.)
Cannot use custom or home-built invoicing for DIAN
Penalties for non-compliance can be severe

Resolution Number

Your business must have:

DIAN authorization to issue electronic invoices
Assigned resolution number
Valid numbering range
Authorized provider relationship

Consult with your accountant or tax advisor to ensure proper DIAN registration before enabling electronic invoicing.

Support Resources

DIAN Website: https://www.dian.gov.co
Alegra Support: https://ayuda.alegra.com
Siigo Support: https://ayuda.siigo.com
CompuTécnicos Docs: See accounting features documentation

Get Started

Features

Configuration

Deployment

​Overview

​Key Features

DIAN Compliance

Provider Integration

Automatic Generation

PDF Download

​Colombian Electronic Invoicing

​Legal Requirements

​CUFE Code

​Supported Providers

​Alegra

​Siigo

​Invoicing Workflow

​Automatic Invoice Generation

​Manual Invoice Generation

​Simulation Mode

​Invoice PDF Format

​PDF Structure

​Downloading Invoices

​Tax Calculation

​IVA (Value Added Tax)

​Tax-Exempt Items

​Credit Notes

​When to Issue Credit Notes

​Credit Note Process

​Invoice Storage and Retrieval

​Storage System

​Retention Period

​Administration Interface

​Viewing Invoices

​Troubleshooting Failed Invoices

​Configuration

​Setup Checklist

1. Choose Provider

2. Get Credentials

3. Configure System

4. Test Integration

​Configuration File

​Best Practices

Monitor Daily

Backup Regularly

Test Changes

Keep Updated

​Compliance Recommendations

​Customer Experience

​Legal Considerations

​DIAN Compliance

​Resolution Number

​Support Resources

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Overview

Key Features

Colombian Electronic Invoicing

Legal Requirements

CUFE Code

Supported Providers

Alegra

Siigo

Invoicing Workflow

Automatic Invoice Generation

Manual Invoice Generation

Simulation Mode

Invoice PDF Format

PDF Structure

Downloading Invoices

Tax Calculation

IVA (Value Added Tax)

Tax-Exempt Items

Credit Notes

When to Issue Credit Notes

Credit Note Process

Invoice Storage and Retrieval

Storage System

Retention Period

Administration Interface

Viewing Invoices

Troubleshooting Failed Invoices

Configuration

Setup Checklist

Configuration File

Best Practices

Compliance Recommendations

Customer Experience

Legal Considerations

DIAN Compliance

Resolution Number

Support Resources