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, 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.
50.2.3 Robustness ¶
Even formally faulty invoices (e.g. invalid date values) are read as far as possible instead of aborting processing. 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”.