Countries › Panama › Guide › 16. What is normal abroad but not here › Every sale needs a fiscal printer or electronic invoice

Every sale needs a fiscal printer or electronic invoice

Last verified: 2026-10-29 · Status: Stable

Abroad, an invoice is often a PDF from accounting software. In Panama every sale of goods or services by a resident must be documented through a DGI authorised fiscal device or the Sistema de Facturación Electrónica de Panamá, and every new taxpayer since 1 January 2022 must use electronic invoicing. Shops must post a sign on their invoicing method, buyers can be fined for leaving without an invoice, and repeat issuing failures cost up to B/.25,000 (US$25,000) plus temporary closure.

Panama's currency, the balboa (B/.), is at par with the US dollar, which circulates freely; the Superintendencia de Bancos states that the balboa's value is on a par with the US dollar and that the dollar circulates without restrictions in commercial and financial transactions (checked 29 October 2026). USD figures therefore equal the balboa figures.

Key facts

Mandatory electronic invoicing	Yes: fiscal devices or the national electronic invoicing system; new RUCs since 1 January 2022 must use electronic invoicing textLey 76 de 1976 art. 11 (Ley 256 de 2021), as of 2026-10-29 · in force
Maximum fine for repeat invoicing failures	25000 PABLey 76 de 1976 art. 11 parágrafo 3 (Ley 256 de 2021), as of 2026-10-29 · in force
Buyer fine for leaving without an invoice	7 %Ley 76 de 1976 art. 11 parágrafo 4 (Ley 256 de 2021), as of 2026-10-29 · in force

The rule

1. An invoice or equivalent document is mandatory for every transfer, sale of goods or provision of services by persons resident in Panama, whatever the form of payment or nationality of the parties, and returns and discounts must also be documented. It must be issued with DGI authorised fiscal equipment or through the Sistema de Facturación Electrónica de Panamá, as Proveedor Autorizado Calificado or through the free Facturador Gratuito. An electronic invoice issued through the system is a negotiable document and an enforceable title for its holder.
Cost to do it: The DGI free invoicing tool costs nothing; a qualified authorised provider or fiscal printer is a commercial cost.
Example: A consulting firm in Panama City billing B/.10,000 a month must issue each invoice through the electronic system or a fiscal device. / Same for a US$10,000 invoice to a foreign client.Ley 76 de 1976 art. 11 as worded by Ley 256 de 26 de noviembre de 2021 art. 1, art. 11, first to fourth paragraphs, 2021-11-26 official text · verified 2026-10-29

2. Minimum content includes document type, unique numbering per invoicing point, fiscal device registration, issuer name, address and RUC, recipient name and identification, issue date, description with quantity and amount, the breakdown of ITBMS, excise and withholding taxes, unit and total values with payment terms, and any discounts or adjustments.
Cost to do it: No fee.
Example: An invoice to a consumer may show final consumer in the recipient field (Decreto Ejecutivo 25 de 2022 art. 3). / Same in US dollars.Ley 76 de 1976 art. 11 parágrafo 1 as worded by Ley 256 de 2021, art. 11 parágrafo 1, 2021-11-26 official text · verified 2026-10-29

3. Issuing invoices without the required features, or not keeping them, is fined B/.500 to B/.1,000 the first time; repeat failures within 24 months are serious and fined B/.5,000 to B/.10,000 with temporary closure, and a second repeat B/.10,000 to B/.25,000 with temporary closure. Buyers who leave a shop without asking for the invoice are fined the greater of B/.1 or 7 percent of the value not invoiced. Shops must display a sign on their invoicing method and these fines, or pay B/.100, rising by B/.100 for each repeat; tampering with a DGI inspection label costs B/.500, rising by B/.1,000 each repeat.
Cost to do it: B/.500 to B/.25,000 per offense (US$500 to US$25,000) plus closure for serious cases.
Example: A shop that fails to issue invoices for the second time within 24 months faces B/.5,000 to B/.10,000 and temporary closure. / US$5,000 to US$10,000 plus lost trading days.Ley 76 de 1976 art. 11 parágrafos 3 to 5 as worded by Ley 256 de 2021, art. 11 parágrafos 3, 4 and 5, 2021-11-26 official text · verified 2026-10-29

4. From 1 January 2022 every new Registro Único de Contribuyente must use the Sistema de Facturación Electrónica de Panamá. Pilot plan electronic invoicers had to move to the system from the first business day of 2023. From 30 July 2022 all public entities accept only electronic invoices from the system for State purchases.
Cost to do it: No fee for the free DGI tool.
Example: A company incorporated in 2026 cannot choose a fiscal printer; it must invoice electronically. / Any supplier to a Panamanian ministry must invoice electronically to be paid.Ley 76 de 1976 art. 11 parágrafos 6 and 7 and art. 12 parágrafo 5 as worded by Ley 256 de 2021, arts. 11 and 12, 2021-11-26 official text · verified 2026-10-29

5. All resident individuals and companies that sell goods or services must document them through fiscal devices or the electronic system, save activities excepted by law, and taxpayers registering with the DGI must use only the electronic system. The decree set adoption dates of 2 January 2023 for maritime classification societies, exchanges, international passenger transport, domestic air transport, fuel cargo transport, hostels with fewer than seven rooms and owners leasing their own property under notarised or registered contracts, and 1 February 2023 for banks and financial institutions and for free zones, Ciudad del Saber, SEM headquarters, Panamá Pacífico and the Colón Free Zone; SEM companies must use electronic invoicing, not fiscal devices.
Cost to do it: No fee for the QR certification of the invoicing method, downloaded through e-Tax 2.0 (art. 6).
Example: A bank branch in Panama has had to invoice its fees electronically or through fiscal devices since 1 February 2023. / Applies to fees in US dollars.Decreto Ejecutivo 25 de 27 de junio de 2022 (Gaceta Oficial 29567-A), arts. 5 and 7, 2022-06-27 official text · verified 2026-10-29

6. Each make and model of fiscal device distributed or used in Panama needs DGI approval, with a fee of B/.1,000 per make and model paid to the National Treasury.
Cost to do it: B/.1,000 (US$1,000) per make and model, paid by the manufacturer or distributor.
Example: Importers of point of sale devices bear this cost, not each shop. / US$1,000 per model.Ley 76 de 1976 art. 12 parágrafo 4 as worded by Ley 256 de 2021, art. 12 parágrafo 4, 2021-11-26 official text · verified 2026-10-29

Offense	Fine	Extra
First failure to issue properly or keep invoices	B/.500 to B/.1,000	None
First repeat within 24 months	B/.5,000 to B/.10,000	Temporary closure
Second repeat	B/.10,000 to B/.25,000	Temporary closure
Buyer leaves without invoice	Greater of B/.1 or 7 percent of the value	Applied by DGI agents
No sign on invoicing method	B/.100, plus B/.100 each repeat	None
Tampering with DGI label	B/.500, plus B/.1,000 each repeat	None

Invoicing fines (Ley 76 de 1976 art. 11 as worded by Ley 256 de 2021); B/. equals US$.

Worked example

A foreign software company sets up a Panamanian subsidiary in 2026 to bill local clients B/.50,000 a month. On obtaining its RUC it must invoice through the electronic system, using the free DGI tool or an authorised provider, and show ITBMS separately on each invoice.
Its first year of improper invoicing could cost B/.500 to B/.1,000 per finding, and a repeat within 24 months up to B/.10,000 with temporary closure (US$10,000).

Step by step

On registration, choose between the DGI free invoicing tool and an authorised qualified provider, based on volume and ERP integration.
Download the invoicing method QR certificate in e-Tax 2.0 and display it at the registered address and every branch.
Configure invoices with all minimum fields, including the RUC and check digit of business customers.
Retain issued invoices for the legal period and document returns and discounts as separate documents.

Common traps

A PDF from global accounting software is not a valid Panamanian invoice.
Free zone and SEM companies are covered too, including sales between free zone companies.
The electronic invoice is a negotiable enforceable title, so manage assignments and payment records carefully.
Temporary closure under the serious offense rules cannot be applied to the taxpayer's domicile premises (Decreto Ejecutivo 25 de 2022 art. 9).

Sources

← Territorial tax: foreign source income is not taxedUS dollars, no local paper money and free repatriation →

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