Guides
E-Invoice Guides
Plain-language explanations of the obligation, the formats, and everyday practice.
E-Invoice: What Is It? Definition & Mandate ExplainedWhat is an e-invoice? The definition under § 14 UStG, the difference from a PDF, the XRechnung and ZUGFeRD formats and when the mandate applies — explained clearly.Archiving E-Invoices: GoBD, Deadline & FormatHow long must e-invoices be retained? Since 2025, eight years. What the GoBD require, why the original XML counts and how to archive in an audit-proof way.E-Invoicing for Public Authorities (B2G): Rules & PortalsInvoices to public-sector clients must be electronic. Which format (XRechnung), which portals (OZG-RE) and which obligations apply — explained concisely.Create an E-Invoice: Free & in the BrowserCreate an e-invoice for free — no software install and no account. Generate a valid XRechnung or ZUGFeRD file compliant with EN 16931 in under a minute.Which E-Invoice Format? A Practical Guide to ChoosingXRechnung, ZUGFeRD or Peppol? Which e-invoice format suits which company size and industry — plus a checklist for picking software.E-invoicing in France: mandatory from 1 September 2026France makes e-invoicing mandatory from 1 September 2026. The timeline, the Factur-X format, what applies to German companies — and how to check your invoice before you send it.E-Invoice for Freelancers & Self-Employed: Mandatory?Does the e-invoice mandate apply to freelancers and the self-employed? Yes — as a business you are fully covered. Receiving since 2025, sending from 2027/2028.E-Invoice Deadlines: Timeline 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028All e-invoice mandate deadlines at a glance: receiving from 2025, transition rules until 2027, sending obligation from 2027/2028 — plus the EU ViDA outlook to 2030.E-Invoicing Glossary: Key Terms ExplainedThe most important e-invoicing terms defined concisely: EN 16931, XRechnung, ZUGFeRD, Factur-X, UBL, CII, Peppol, Leitweg-ID, GoBD and more.E-Invoicing in the Trades: Receiving, Archiving, Transmission RoutesE-invoicing for trade and craft businesses: how to receive and read invoices on site, archive them GoBD-compliant without storage worries, and tell suppliers your transmission route.E-Invoice for Small Businesses: What Applies in 2025?Do small businesses have to write e-invoices? Receiving has been mandatory since 2025, sending is exempt under § 34a UStDV. What you need to know — explained concisely.Open & View an XRechnung: Make XML ReadableOpen an XRechnung or XML invoice and view it in readable form — no special software needed. Make structured e-invoices visible right in your browser, no upload.E-Invoicing Obligation in Germany 2025: A Guide for FreelancersSince 2025 e-invoicing is mandatory for B2B in Germany. What it means for small businesses and freelancers — and how to get started right away.Check & Validate an E-Invoice Against EN 16931Check and validate an e-invoice — against EN 16931 and the German business rules (BR-DE). Spot errors before sending, free of charge and locally in your browser.E-Invoice Software: Do I Need a Program?E-invoice software or a free browser tool? What you really need for receiving, creating and checking — and when dedicated software is worth it.E-Invoicing for Tax Firms: Turning the Mandate into an OpportunityFor tax advisory firms the e-invoicing mandate is more than a compliance topic. How to automate document intake, bring clients along, and position the firm as a digitalisation adviser.Five Steps to E-Invoicing: The Practical GuideA concrete five-point plan for moving to e-invoicing: process review, tax adviser, software, master data, training — with time needed and a checkpoint for each step.E-Invoice Template & Sample: the Mandatory FieldsLooking for an e-invoice template? A real e-invoice has no visual sample — it is a fixed set of EN 16931 mandatory fields. Here is the field list plus a tool.Benefits of the E-Invoice: Time, Money & Fewer ErrorsWhat benefits does the e-invoice offer? Faster payment, fewer typos, lower costs and automatic booking — with concrete figures on the savings.E-Rechnung vs. PDF: Is a PDF an E-Invoice?E-Rechnung vs. PDF: a plain PDF is not an e-invoice. What the legal difference is, why structured data matters, and the one exception — ZUGFeRD.EN 16931: The European Standard for E-InvoicesEN 16931 is the European standard for the e-invoice data model. What it covers, the UBL and CII syntaxes, business terms, CIUS and extensions — clearly explained.Factur-X: The French ZUGFeRD ExplainedFactur-X is the French hybrid e-invoice format — technically identical to ZUGFeRD. Structure, its link to ZUGFeRD and the French mandate timeline.Leitweg-ID: Structure, Example & Where to Get ItThe Leitweg-ID addresses public authorities in an XRechnung. Its structure of coarse and fine routing plus check digit, an example and where to get the ID — explained.Peppol: Network & BIS Billing 3.0 Explained SimplyPeppol is the European network for the secure exchange of e-invoices. The four-corner model, Access Point, Peppol ID and BIS Billing 3.0 explained clearly.Peppol ID: Structure, Example & How to Get OneThe Peppol ID is your address in the Peppol network. Its structure of scheme and identifier, an example, how it differs from the Leitweg-ID and how to obtain one.The Wachstumschancengesetz: What the E-Invoicing Mandate Means for Your BusinessThe German Growth Opportunities Act makes B2B e-invoicing mandatory. What the law says, which transition periods apply — and why a PDF is no longer an invoice.XRechnung: What Is It? Format, Version & StructureWhat is an XRechnung? The German B2G standard based on EN 16931, in the UBL and CII syntaxes, with Leitweg-ID. Current version, structure and use explained.Create an XRechnung: Guide with Leitweg-IDCreate an XRechnung step by step — including the Leitweg-ID for authorities, choosing between UBL and CII, and validation. Free in the browser, no account.UBL vs. CII: The Two XRechnung Syntaxes ComparedUBL or CII? Both are valid XML syntaxes of EN 16931 and the XRechnung. What sets them apart, who uses which and which one you should choose — clearly explained.XRechnung vs. ZUGFeRD: The Difference, Simply ExplainedXRechnung or ZUGFeRD? Both satisfy EN 16931 but differ in structure. When to use which format — explained in plain language.ZUGFeRD: The Hybrid PDF-and-XML Format ExplainedZUGFeRD is a PDF with embedded XML — readable for humans, processable for machines. Profiles, the current version 2.5 and its link to Factur-X at a glance.ZUGFeRD rejected by the ELSTER visualiser as “not an e-invoice” — the fixGermany’s official ELSTER visualiser reports some valid ZUGFeRD PDFs as “not an electronic invoice in ZUGFeRD format”. The cause is an outdated metadata namespace — here is how to spot and fix it.Read a ZUGFeRD PDF: Extract the Embedded XMLRead a ZUGFeRD PDF: how to extract the embedded XML from a ZUGFeRD or Factur-X invoice, view it readably and validate it — free of charge and locally in your browser.