50.2 Supported E-Invoice Formats
50.2.1 Overview ¶
Automatic X-Invoice Processor reads all e-invoice formats common in Germany, based on the European standard EN 16931:
| Format |
Versions/variants |
File form |
| ZUGFeRD / Factur-X |
1.0 to 2.5.2, all profiles (MINIMUM to EXTENDED, XRECHNUNG) |
PDF with embedded XML; the XML is also read directly |
| XRechnung |
All versions |
Plain XML, syntaxes UN/CEFACT CII and UBL |
| EN 16931-compliant invoices |
e.g. Peppol BIS Billing |
Plain XML (CII/UBL) |
Factur-X is the French twin standard of ZUGFeRD - from version 2.1 on, both are identical and treated the same.
50.2.2 Profiles and data depth ¶
ZUGFeRD profiles differ in the data scope of the XML:
| Profile |
Content |
| MINIMUM / BASIC WL |
Key data only (parties, amounts) - no line items |
| BASIC |
Core data with line items |
| EN 16931 (COMFORT) |
Full standard scope |
| EXTENDED |
Extended additional data (e.g. hierarchical sub-items) |
| XRECHNUNG |
XRechnung-compliant profile |
For MINIMUM/BASIC WL invoices, correspondingly fewer placeholder values are available to the tasks; the PDF visualization then shows a summary line item view based on the totals.
Sub-lines (ZUGFeRD 2.5 EXTENDED): A line item can contain subordinate lines - for example a bundle with its components or a subtotal across several lines. Every sub-line carries a line type: DETAIL (counts towards totals and VAT), GROUP (subtotal or bundle, not relevant for totals) or INFORMATION (additional information only). The PDF visualization indents sub-lines (see chapter 12); the extract's line item list and the database line item table provide the fields Parent position and Line type for them (see chapters 11 and 13). Quantities and amounts of GROUP and INFORMATION lines are not counted.
50.2.3 Robustness ¶
Even formally faulty invoices (e.g. invalid date values) are read as far as possible instead of aborting processing. Whether an invoice complies with the rules of its format is determined by validation (see chapter 50.5). Files without any readable invoice data appear in the Errors tab of the log and can be moved to a dedicated folder automatically (see chapter 40.6.4).
Note: The program also does not accidentally process regular PDF or XML files without invoice data using wrong values - they are sorted out as "without invoice data".