POS Certification in France applies to both software publishers and companies developing their own software internally. And who are seeking to ensure compliance with regulations, demonstrate the quality of their product, or reassure their customers. By enrolling in the certification process, a company can benefit from the recognition of the NF mark. Which inspires trust, quality, and security.
How to reach POS Certification in France?
It is important to note that by registering in the process of certification, the company will open up to new markets by substantiating the quality of its product. The certification process will allow the company to optimize its practices and internal processes related to their support, testing, documentation, etc.
Regarding the certification process, there are five distinct stages:
- First Stage: Registration for POS certification in France. Upon requesting contact, you will receive an identification form to be completed and returned to us. You will then receive a quote for an initial audit on conformity.
- Second Stage: Integration of the certification rules. Once the registration is validated, the software publisher or the company will receive the certification rules. They will need to be integrated into their software before scheduling their audit of conformity.
In addition to the reception of the certification rules you will be able to participate in a half-day training session. Dedicated to their presentation and on their integration in your software. It will help you save valuable time in reaching NF525 compliancy.
- Third Stage: Audit of conformity. Once the certification rules are integrated into your software, and development is complete, we will schedule an audit together. During the audit, one or more auditors will conduct checks to assess any disparities between the certification rules and your software.
- Fourth Stage: Report and Decision. Following the checks, INFOCERT submits a certification decision to AFNOR Certification. In certain cases, an additional audit may condition the certification decision. In case of a certification agreement, the certificate of compliance will be accessible directly on our dedicated website – see the list of certificates.
- Fifth Stage: Annual monitoring. Annual monitoring will assess compliance over time. The duration of monitoring depends on regulatory changes or certification rules.
Why Should I Certify My Software To NF525?
As mentioned earlier, software compliance is accompanied by improved software quality and opportunities for the software publisher or the company developing the software.
Software compliance also helps in staying updated on regulatory developments concerning certification and ensures that the product is maintained and up to date. This is especially important in the current context of preparing for the implementation of the widespread use of e-invoicing. As a reminder, this reform represents a significant fiscal upheaval, and starting from September 1st, 2026, French companies will be required to receive electronic invoices directly from a platform. You can find all the important information in our special file or through our dedicated comprehensive training, the cost of which can be covered by your OPCO.
To reiterate, software certification applies to all types of companies and publishers. Whether it’s an ERP, a SaaS solution, software hosted in the cloud, and more. Software compliance can cover different domains, including business management, GDPR, anti-VAT fraud law, billing software, and more.
What Are the Risks of Not Being Compliant With French Tax Law?
By certifying their software, companies or publishers also protect themselves from potential penalties outlined by regulations. For example, in the case of combating VAT fraud and NF525 certification: « in the event of using software that does not comply with regulatory requirements, Article L-80 of the book of tax procedures provides for the following penalties:
- A fine of €7,500 per cash register system and 30 days to achieve compliance. Then, another €7,500 fine and another 30 days, and so on, potentially leading to the rejection of accounting.
- The user will also have to pay all rights related to non-compliant revenues, plus an 80% penalty for fraudulent manipulation.
- For the publisher or integrator, the fine is 15% of turnover, and the user is responsible for payment. »
How Long Does It Take to Reach POS Certification in France?
Being certified means committing to a transparent, improving, and continuously evolving software process.
The duration of the process is related to the time it takes for you to bring your software into compliance – by following the certification rules. This time can range from 1 to several months. An attestation of actual progress, valid for 4 months, can be sent to you during the process of achieving compliance for your product. This attestation can help you justify your progress to the Tax Administration or reassure potential clients about your progress in the certification process.
The duration of the certification audit is typically two days.
If you have questions about the certification process or software compliance, please don’t hesitate to contact us at contact@infocert.org. We will be happy to help answer all your questions.
