The biggest news in recent days is undoubtedly the delay in the implementation of the Verifactu system (or VERI*FACTU). This system was designed to guarantee the unalterability of issued invoices and reduce fraud, but its postponement says much more than it seems at first glance.
A System No One Was Ready For
This delay confirms what many professionals already suspected: a large part of the business ecosystem was simply not prepared for its rollout. Once again, Spanish companies and self-employed professionals face an overwhelming administrative burden, with compliance requirements that often change faster than businesses can adapt.
Beyond the technical challenges, this situation highlights a deeper structural problem: legal uncertainty. Conflicts between public administrations, unclear regulations, and last-minute changes often end up being resolved in court, sometimes completely altering the original interpretation of the law. As many business owners often say: “When I finally understand the rules, they change them again.”
Automation, Control, and the “Big Brother” Effect
From the perspective of accounting and tax advisory firms, the trend is clear: increasing automation. Verifactu is only one piece of the puzzle. Electronic invoicing is next, and together they point toward a system where public administrations will have near real-time visibility into business activity.
This creates a kind of “Big Brother” effect, where tax authorities gain unprecedented access to operational data. At the same time, companies are caught between two forces:
- The services offered directly by public administrations
- The growing ecosystem of private software providers trying to position themselves as intermediaries
For many firms, navigating this landscape is becoming increasingly complex.
AI, LLMs, and the Transformation of the Profession
The arrival of large language models (LLMs) accelerates this transformation even further. Both public institutions and software companies are integrating AI to automate processes that traditionally belonged to accounting and advisory professionals.
This shift is not neutral. It changes power dynamics, reduces margins, and increases pressure on small and mid-sized firms that have historically relied on personalized service and deep regulatory knowledge.
Consolidation and the End of the Traditional Model?
In this context, consolidation is accelerating. Mergers, acquisitions, and private equity buyouts are reshaping the sector, gradually eroding the traditional small accounting practices that have existed for decades.
What we are witnessing is not just a technological upgrade, but a structural transformation of the profession — one where scale, automation, and regulatory proximity increasingly define who survives and who disappears.
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