e-CF Overview

Core concepts of the Electronic Fiscal Document: actors, lifecycle, document types, and key DGII terminology.

e-CF Overview

What is the e-CF

The Electronic Fiscal Document (e-CF) is the electronic version of the fiscal receipt, with the same legal validity and effects as the paper one, issued in standard XML format and digitally signed. Regulatory framework: Decree 254-06, Norms 06-18 and 05-2019 (DGII), E-Commerce Law 126-02, and INDOTEL regulations for digital certificates.

Actors

  • DGII — authorizes sequences (eNCF), receives and validates each e-CF, returns the TrackId, and publishes the e-invoicers directory.
  • Electronic issuer — generates the XML, signs it with its digital certificate, and transmits it to the DGII and to the receiver.
  • Electronic receiver — receives e-CF; issues an acknowledgement of receipt (ARECF) and, optionally, commercial approval/rejection (ACECF). Every electronic receiver is also an issuer.

Non-electronic receivers get only the Printed Representation (RI).

Lifecycle of an e-CF

  1. Generation of the XML (root tag <ECF>).
  2. Digital signature with the tax certificate.
  3. Submission to the DGII (reception Web Service).
  4. Response with TrackId — status: accepted / conditionally accepted / rejected / in process (queryable).
  5. Delivery to the receiver (via the e-invoicers directory URL).
  6. Acknowledgement of receipt (ARECF) — confirms reception (not commercial acceptance).
  7. Commercial approval (ACECF) — optional; agreement/rejection, only if the e-CF was accepted by the DGII.

Steps 1–4 are mandatory. 5–6 are mandatory for electronic receivers; 7 is optional. With a non-electronic receiver: the issuer delivers the RI and the receiver validates it on the DGII portal with the eNCF + Security Code.

e-CF types

TypeName
31Tax Credit Invoice (Factura de Crédito Fiscal)
32Consumer Invoice (Factura de Consumo)
33Debit Note (Nota de Débito)
34Credit Note (Nota de Crédito)
41Purchases (Compras)
43Minor Expenses (Gastos Menores)
44Special Regimes (Regímenes Especiales)
45Governmental (Gubernamental)
46Exports (Exportaciones)
47Foreign Payments (Pagos al Exterior)

Key concepts

  • eNCF — 13-position sequence: E + 2 type digits + 10 sequential (e.g. E310000000001); authorized by the DGII, expires on December 31 of the following year.
  • Digital signature — mandatory on every e-CF; tax certificate accredited by INDOTEL; guarantees authenticity and integrity.
  • Security Code (QR) — first 6 characters of the signature hash; lets you validate the e-CF on the DGII portal/app.
  • Printed Representation (RI) — paper version; mandatory if the receiver is non-electronic or requires it (e.g. transporting goods).
  • RFCE — for Consumer Invoice (32) < RD$250,000: a summary is sent to the DGII; the full XML is kept for 10 years.

Contingency

Exceptional states that prevent issuing/sending an e-CF:

  • Issuer has no connectivity — generate offline and submit to the DGII within ≤72 h; the RI carries the note "e-CF issued in contingency mode".
  • Cannot generate an e-CF — use non-electronic NCF (max. 15 days); within 30 days generate and submit the e-CF referencing those NCF.
  • DGII contingency — the issuer stores and resubmits once service is restored; if it exceeds 15 business days, the DGII enables temporary operation with non-electronic receipts.

Only non-electronic receipts issued during a contingency notified to the DGII are valid.

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