Holafly vs eSIM Ahora 2026 — Which Issues Tax Invoices

If you work as a self-employed professional in Spain and purchase a travel eSIM, you need a complete invoice to deduct the expense in your quarterly VAT return. Holafly issues a generic receipt without the customer's tax ID; at eSIM Ahora we issue simplified or full invoices based on your profile, with all fields required by the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT). In this post we compare both so you know which meets your tax requirements.

What is a valid AEAT invoice (2026 requirements)

A simplified invoice (for amounts under €400) must include:

• Invoice number and issue date.
• Company name and tax ID of the issuer.
• Service description.
• Taxable base, VAT rate (21% or 10% depending on service) and VAT amount.
• Tax ID of the recipient (mandatory if the customer requests it for deduction).

A full invoice (always mandatory if the customer is a business or professional who will deduct VAT) adds:

• Complete tax address of the issuer.
• Company name and address of the recipient.
• Breakdown by tax rate if multiple rates apply.

To deduct 100% of the VAT on your telecommunications expense as a self-employed professional, the invoice must include your tax ID in the "Recipient Tax ID" field and explicitly show the VAT amount supported. If the document doesn't include your tax ID, the Tax Agency may reject the deduction in case of audit.

Holafly: receipt without customer tax ID

Holafly is an Irish platform (Airhub Ltd., tax ID IE123456789) operating from Dublin. When you purchase a plan, you receive an email with a payment receipt that includes:

• Order reference number.
• Purchase date.
• Issuer company name (Airhub Ltd.) and its Irish tax ID.
• Total amount in euros (final price, without VAT breakdown).

What the Holafly receipt does not include:

• Customer tax ID (the field is empty or shows only email).
• Breakdown of taxable base and VAT amount.
• Customer tax address.

In practice, the Holafly receipt works as a payment proof, but not as a valid invoice for deducting VAT in Spain. If you're self-employed and need to justify the expense to the Tax Agency, this document doesn't meet the requirements of Article 6 of Royal Decree 1619/2012.

Holafly applies VAT under the EU e-commerce directive: if your card is issued in Spain and your billing address is Spanish, Spanish VAT (21%) is included in the final price, but the receipt doesn't break it down. Some users report that Holafly support can issue an invoice with tax ID upon explicit request, but the process takes several days and isn't documented on their website. As of June 2026, Holafly charges between $19 and $47 for 5- to 15-day plans in European destinations.

eSIM Ahora: automatic invoice with tax ID and VAT breakdown

At eSIM Ahora we issue simplified or full invoices automatically upon completing your purchase. The process:

1. At checkout, you enter your tax ID in the "Tax ID/CIF" field (optional for individuals, required if you want to deduct).
2. If you enter a valid Spanish tax ID (format A12345678, B12345678, etc.), the system generates a simplified invoice with:
   • Sequential invoice number.
   • Issuer company name and tax ID (eSIM Ahora S.L., tax ID B12345678, based in Madrid).
   • Your tax ID in the "Recipient Tax ID" field.
   • Plan description (e.g., "eSIM 3 GB valid 30 days — Spain").
   • Taxable base, 21% VAT, VAT amount, and total.
3. You receive the invoice as a PDF attachment to your confirmation email in less than 60 seconds after payment.
4. If you need a full invoice (with your company name and tax address), add this in the "Notes" field at checkout or contact us by email after purchase — we issue it in less than 24 hours.

eSIM Ahora invoices comply with Royal Decree 1619/2012 and are valid for:

• Deducting 100% of the VAT supported in your quarterly return (VAT form 303).
• Justifying the expense as a necessary supply in your activity (simplified direct estimate return if applicable).
• Filing in your received-invoices ledger.

Our plans for Spain range from $3 to $8 per 3 GB valid for 30 days, with invoice included from the first purchase. For other European countries like France, Italy, or Portugal, the range is similar — see plans by country for current pricing.

Side-by-side comparison

Why tax ID on the invoice matters for self-employed professionals

The Tax Agency requires every supplier invoice to include the recipient's tax ID if they intend to deduct VAT. Without that field:

• You cannot report the VAT amount in your quarterly VAT return (VAT form 303).
• If the Tax Agency cross-checks data with the issuer, the expense without your tax ID remains outside the traceability of the IIS system (Immediate Supply of Information).
• In case of audit, the inspector may reject the deduction and assess the VAT owed plus late-payment interest.

For small expenses (under €400) a simplified invoice suffices, but the tax ID field is mandatory if the recipient requires it (Article 7.1.3 of RD 1619/2012). A receipt without tax ID is not a simplified invoice — it's a payment proof with no tax effect.

If you travel several times a year and accumulate $100–$200 in eSIMs, the difference between deducting 21% VAT or losing that deduction adds up to $21–$42 annually. For a self-employed professional, every dollar counts.

How to obtain an invoice from Holafly (workaround)

If you already purchased a Holafly plan and need an invoice with your tax ID:

1. Save the receipt you received by email (it has the order number).
2. Email support@holafly.com with:
   • Order number.
   • Your name or company name.
   • Your tax ID.
   • Tax address (if you need a full invoice).
3. Holafly generates the invoice manually and sends it in 2–5 business days.

This process isn't documented on their website; we know about it from user reports in self-employed forums. The invoice issued afterward does include your tax ID and VAT breakdown, but the issue date may not match your purchase date (some users report the invoice date is when they request it, not the original payment date). Consult your accountant if this affects your bookkeeping.

Other eSIM operators and their invoicing policy

As of June 2026, most travel eSIM platforms issue receipts without the customer's tax ID:

• Airalo (Singapore-based): receipt with order number, no tax ID field. You can request an invoice by email; they issue in 3–7 days.
• Nomad (Estonia-based): generic receipt. They do not issue invoices with tax ID under any circumstances.
• Saily (Lithuania-based): automatic receipt, invoice with tax ID upon request (takes 5–10 days).

Among providers that issue automatic invoices with tax ID, at eSIM Ahora we're the only one with a Spanish issuer (which simplifies IIS traceability for your accountant).

When you don't need an invoice with tax ID

If you're an individual (not self-employed, don't deduct VAT), a receipt from Holafly or any other provider is sufficient for:

• Justifying the charge to your bank.
• Filing a claim with the issuer if the service fails.
• Keeping personal records of travel expenses.

In that case, the missing tax ID doesn't matter. The price difference between Holafly and eSIM Ahora may be more relevant than the invoice: Holafly charges $19 for 5 days of unlimited data (with FUP throttling after 5 GB); we charge a range of $3–$8 per 3 GB valid for 30 days without throttling — see current plans.

How to file the invoice with the Tax Agency

Once you have an invoice with your tax ID:

1. Store it in your received-invoices folder (digital or paper, per your system).
2. Note the expense in your received-invoices ledger (required if you use direct accounting).
3. Report the VAT amount in box 28 ("VAT Supported — Amount") of your quarterly VAT return for the corresponding quarter.
4. If you use accounting software (Contasimple, Holded, etc.), scan or upload the invoice PDF and link it to the expense entry.

The Tax Agency may request supplier invoices in case of audit. Keep the PDF for at least 4 years (VAT statute of limitations) or 6 years if you also deduct the expense on your personal return.

FAQ

Does a Holafly receipt qualify for VAT deduction in Spain?

No. The Holafly receipt does not include the customer's tax ID or break down the taxable base and VAT amount, so it doesn't meet the requirements for a simplified invoice under Royal Decree 1619/2012. You can request a formal invoice by email, but it's not automatic.

How long does it take for an eSIM provider to issue an invoice with tax ID?

The simplified invoice is issued automatically when you complete your purchase, if you enter your tax ID in the checkout field. You receive the PDF as an email attachment in less than 60 seconds. If you need a full invoice with company name and tax address, contact us by email or Telegram — we issue it in less than 24 hours.

Can I deduct 100% of the eSIM VAT as a self-employed professional?

Yes, if the expense is necessary for your activity (business travel, remote work abroad, client prospecting in another country). VAT law allows 100% deduction of VAT on telecommunications services tied to your business. If you use the eSIM for mixed purposes (work + personal), consult your accountant on the deductible percentage — some advisors recommend 50% for mixed use to avoid audit disputes.

What if I buy from Holafly and don't request an invoice with tax ID?

You lose the ability to deduct the VAT on that purchase. The generic receipt serves as proof of payment, but the Tax Agency won't accept it to report the VAT amount on your quarterly return. If you accumulate several purchases over a year, the lost deductions can total tens of dollars.

Is Holafly's tax ID Spanish or foreign?

Holafly operates under Airhub Ltd., with an Irish tax ID (format IE followed by digits). As an EU company, VAT applies in the destination country (Spain) when your card is Spanish, but the invoice is issued by an Irish entity. This doesn't prevent deduction if the invoice meets formal requirements, but some accountants prefer invoices from Spanish issuers to simplify IIS traceability.