Things to know about processing XRechnung and ZUGFeRD formats (Legacy)

The standard formats XRechnung and ZUGFeRD were created for the exchange of electronic invoices in Germany. Both invoice formats are based on European Union (EU) directives and are used for secure and standardized data exchange. The formats are stored in a human-readable PDF file, while the XML format is used for machine readability.

The standard formats XRechnung and ZUGFeRD are processed in edoc document reader if the XML file is embedded as an attachment in the PDF document.

The invoice as a PDF file is automatically checked to see whether an XRechnung or ZUGFeRD XML file is embedded in the PDF file. If a corresponding XML file is contained in the PDF file, the system automatically checks which of the two possible standard formats is present. Validation of the corresponding schemas ensures that the format of the XML file is error-free.

The invoice number, invoice date and amounts are read from the XML file and made available for further processing.

Distinction between invoice and credit memo

Only invoices are processed. An invoice is automatically distinguished from a credit memo during processing. The corresponding BT3 code 380 for invoices is used to differentiate between the two. If the document corresponds to BT3 code 380, the document is processed as an invoice.

Extract the data

When reading out the XML data, data blocks and the data they contain are searched for specifically during processing.

The following information is read out in the respective XML file for documents in the XRechnung and ZUGFeRD formats:

Invoice

ExchangedDocument

AccountingCustomerParty

BuyerTradeParty

AccountingSupplierParty

SellerTradeParty

PaymentMeans

SpecifiedTradeSettlementPaymentMeans

InvoiceLine

IncludedSupplyChainTradeLineItem

TaxTotal

SpecifiedTradeSettlementHeaderMonetarySummation / 
ApplicableTradeTax

LegalMonetaryTotal

LegalMonetaryTotal