Since ZUGFeRD 2.1.1 the XRechnung profile is additionally supported, that means a total of 6 profiles for this standard. ZUGFeRD as of version 2.0 is “fully compliant” in the sense of the European standard EN 16931-1. The PDF Xpansion SDK also supports all five profiles defined for ZUGFeRD from version 2.0.
ZUGFeRD 1.0 is not fully compliant with EN 16931-1, but is already widely used for automated processing. PDF Xpansion SDK supports all three profiles: EXTENDED, COMFORT, BASIC.
XRechnung 2.2
Is the German public sector standard and is based on the EU standard EN 16931. Invoices according to this standard are XML files without visual representation. With PDF Xpansion SDK you can create these XRechnung XMLs directly as well as, using the “XRechnung” profile in the context of the ZUGFeRD standard as of version 2.0, a corresponding XML file embedded in a PDF/A-3 file.
The UN/CEFACT syntax is supported by the PDF Xpansion SDK for creating and reading invoices. Import/export options are provided for invoices in UBL syntax.
Factur-X
The French invoice standard is conform to EN 16931-1 and technically identical with ZUGFeRD from version 2.0. The PDF Xpansion SDK supports all 5 profiles: EXTENDED, EN 16931, BASIC, BASIC WL and MINIMUM.
eInvoicing Features of PDF Xpansion SDK:
Reading and technical (syntax, structure, completeness) validation of incoming ZUGFeRD, XRechnung (UN/CEFACT (CII) syntax) and Factur-X files, extracting XML-formatted invoices
Reading and technical (syntax, structure, completeness) validation of XML-formatted invoices (all profiles, incl. Extended), extracting invoice data
Creating XML-formatted invoices over SDK API – invoice content can be builded by calling the methods of SDK with invoice data (all profiles, incl. Extended), save XML-formatted invoices to the files
Creating ZUGFeRD, XRechnung (UN/CEFACT (CII) syntax) and Factur-X conform files from XML-formatted invoices and visual represantion of invoice which can be:
PDF file
raster images (scanned pages of paper document)
HTML file
Text file
dynamically builded document
Transform (convert) XML-formatted invoices from one standard to other, for example from ZUGFeRD 1.0 to ZUGFeRD 2.1 or Factur-X
Import XRechnung invoices (UBL syntax)
Display the PDF part of invoice in PDF viewer
Print the PDF part of invoice
Visualization of XML invoices (PDF creation from XML and design template)
Digital signatures for ZUGFeRD outgoing invoices, including all PAdES conformance levels.
Incoming invoice stamped “RECEIVED”
NewSupport also of ZUGFeRD 2.2 & XRechnung 2.2
NewExport of XRechnung invoices in UBL syntax
NewSupport of “Sub Invoice Lines” in XRechnung invoices (available only for “Extension XRechnung” and UBL syntax)
The following sample files* were created with the PDF Xpansion SDK
File
Standard
Explanation
x
Preview: sx-inv-xr20.xml
The representation is only for the first orientation. To get a detailed view, the sample files* can be downloaded here.
sx-inv-xr20.xml
XRechnung 2.2
XML file created based on existing financial data with the API
x
Preview sx-inv-zf21.xml
The representation is only for the first orientation. To get a detailed view, the sample files* can be downloaded here.
sx-inv-zf21.xml
ZUGFeRD 2.1
XML file for embedding in PDF/A-3. Created based on financial data using PDF Xpansion SDK API
x
Preview: sx-inv-visual.pdf
The representation is only for the first orientation. To get a detailed view, the sample files* can be downloaded here.
sx-inv-visual.pdf
ZUGFeRD 2.1
Automatically created PDF file from an existing XML file. Used for visualization of XML invoices
x
Preview: sx-inv-zf21.pdf
The representation is only for the first orientation. To get a detailed view, the sample files* can be downloaded here.
sx-inv-zf21.pdf
ZUGFeRD 2.1
A PDF/A-3 invoice with correctly embedded, EN 16931-1 compliant XML file
x
Preview: sx-inv-signed.pdf
The representation is only for the first orientation. To get a detailed view, the sample files* can be downloaded here.
sx-inv-signed.pdf
ZUGFeRD 2.1
Above invoice with PAdES signature
x
Preview: sx-inv-stamped.pdf
The representation is only for the first orientation. To get a detailed view, the sample files* can be downloaded here.
XRechnung is the German eInvoice standard, according to which, with a few exceptions, paper or simple PDF invoices may no longer be submitted to federal authorities and the state of Bremen as of November 27, 2020. Instead, public sector contractors and suppliers are to invoice their services electronically in XRechnung format from this date. As a result, the invoice content can be created and processed as a structured data record. As of this date, public sector invoice recipients are allowed to reject invoices received in paper or other formats (e.g. simple PDF file). The standard is based on the EU standard EN 16931. Invoices according to this standard are XML files, i.e. they are missing a visual representation that can be easily and “ergonomically” read by humans.
ZUGFeRD
ZUGFeRD (German language acronym for „Zentraler User Guide Forum elektronische Rechnung Deutschland“, i. e. „Central User Guide Forum electronic Invoice Germany“) is a digital data format. It combines a printable invoice (PDF/A-3 file as visual representation of the invoice data as digital media format instead of the corresponding paper invoice) with an embedded XML file that presents the invoice data in a specifically structured way. This special data structure enables billing and accounting applications to read information like for example the invoice amount, date or number in a standardized way and to process this data. The overall goal is to further develop elaborate ways of working with invoices without having to switch media, for example between paper and computer data. In the long run, the concept aims at replacing the existing OCR recognition methods. Since 2014, the standard is developed by a cooperation between FeRD, various private organizations, companies and government departments. ZUGFeRD enables electronic invoice exchange between companies, public administration and consumers.
In order to overcome the obstacles mentioned above, the German organization FeRD (Forum elektronische Rechnung Deutschland e. V.) has been founded to develop and establish an appropriate standard. FeRD works as a hub to link the key players and interested companies in the field of E-Invoicing. Details on the current state of the developed standard (ZUGFeRD format) are available on the FeRD website.
ZUGFeRD from version 2.0 is based on the EN 16931 standard and is technically identical to the French Factur-X standard, thus also supporting efforts to establish a Europe-wide standard in the field of electronic invoice processing. Among other things, the format offers a profile (designation: EN 16931), which is identical to XRechnung in this respect. On the other hand, ZUGFeRD from version 2.0 allows for lower technical requirements (in the BASIC profile), but also higher requirements for electronic invoices (in the EXTENDED profile). All three profiles mentioned above enable your customers to create ZUGFeRD invoices that meet the requirements of the German Value Added Tax Act (UStG). Using the BASIC profile, for example, even smaller customer companies that do not have any business relations with public administration can create VAT and ZUGFeRD-compliant electronic invoices. The BASIC WL and MINIMUM profiles can be used as a booking aid, but not to create invoices that meet the requirements of the VAT Act.
ZUGFeRD 2.1.1 provides an additional option to use a sixth pseudo-profile called “XRechnung” to create XML invoices formatted according to the XRechnung standard and a PDF/A file containing a visual representation of the invoice.
Differences between ZUGFeRD 1.0 and higher are differences due to the design principles of the EN 16931-1 standard, profiles, business rules, calculation methods, allowed tax types, tags in syntax mapping, code lists & embedding in PDF/A-3.
Like PDF/A-1 and PDF/A-2, PDF/A-3 is a special type of PDF format. All three formats may be used for the long-term archiving of documents. The distinctive feature of PDF/A-3: it allows to embed any other file type into the PDF/A file. Therefore, it is possible to embed XML files. The PDF/A-3 specification has been published in October 2012.
XML files are a special type of text files, since they save data in a hierarchically structured way. The structure allows various applications (e.g. billing and accounting system software) to read the data from these files.
i
Some non-standard exceptions were found in the info package files of ferd-net.de:
ZUGFeRD Info Package 2.0 All samples are non-conform to the format specification of this version.
XML Metadata contains invalid ZUGFeRD extension scheme: – scheme prefix is “fx”, according to specification it should be “zf” – scheme version is “1.0”, it should be “2p0”
Sample with MINIMUM profile contains incorrect embedded XML data – the specification of a data relationship is “Alternative” (legal invoice), but should be “Data” (accounting data, Buchungshilfe).
ZUGFeRD Info Package 2.1.1 The samples for “BASIC_WL” profile contain correct invoices, but with “BASIC” profile as designation.
How does soft Xpansion support digital invoice formats?
ZUGFeRD
soft Xpansion is a member of FeRD. We offer extensive ZUGFeRD and XRechnung functionality in our developer tool PDF Xpansion SDK 16. With PDF Xpansion SDK 16, software developers can integrate various PDF formats as well as the eInvoice formats XRechnung and ZUGFeRD/FACTUR-X into their own applications, so that users no longer need additional software to use (create, view, edit) the mentioned formats.
XRechnung
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News for Developers
PDF Xpansion SDK 16 released Support of XRechnung 2.1 & 2.2