If your business is in Panama, your invoices have to go through DGI (the tax authority) to be legal. TradelyHQ handles the technical part. You handle three steps on your end. Here they are.

Where to find your checklist

Go to Configuración → Facturación electrónica (DGI). You'll see a card with three steps. Each one shows Pendiente (not started), En proceso (in progress), or Listo (done).

Step 1: Get your signature certificate

This is a legal electronic signature, and you get it through firmaelectronica.gob.pa (the Registro Público's signature site). It costs B/.50 and lasts about 2 years.

When you apply, pick the "factura electrónica DGI" option. If your business is a company (not a sole proprietor), you'll also need to attach proof of who your legal representative is.

Once you have it, come back to the checklist and click "Ya lo tengo" next to this step.

Step 2: File your declaration in e-Tax 2.0

Log into e-Tax 2.0 (DGI's online tax system) and file the Declaración Jurada de Adopción SFEP. This tells DGI you're switching to invoicing through a PAC (an authorized provider like the one TradelyHQ works with).

If this is the first time you've adopted electronic invoicing, file the Original version.
If you were already using DGI's free invoicing tool and are now switching, file the Rectificativa version instead.

Not sure which one applies to you? Ask your accountant. Filing the wrong one means doing it again.

Step 3: Affiliation with the provider

This one you don't have to do anything for. Once your RUC and business info are saved in the settings card, we create your account with our provider automatically. This step flips to Listo on its own.

Once all three steps say Listo

Your card at the top will show "Listo para emitir". From that point on, when you send an invoice, it goes to DGI automatically and comes back authorized, usually within seconds. You don't have to do anything different when creating the invoice.

How long does this take?

Usually 1 to 3 weeks total, mostly waiting on the certificate and the e-Tax 2.0 filing to go through. The B/.50 certificate fee is the only cost on your end.