An E-Invoice, also known as an 'E-Invoice' or 'electronic invoice', is an invoice that is created, transmitted, and received in an electronic format. It contains the same information as a traditional paper invoice, but meets additional technical and formal requirements to ensure it is suitable for tax purposes. The standardization of E-Invoices in Germany and the EU aims to simplify exchanges between businesses and public administrations.
Tip
An E-Invoice can be in various formats, including PDF, XML, and other electronic formats.
Starting January 1, 2025, companies in Germany must be able to receive e-invoices in B2B transactions. This means suppliers are allowed to send e-invoices instead of PDF or paper invoices without prior consent. Companies need to ensure they can receive structured formats such as XRechnung or ZUGFeRD. A standard email inbox is sufficient, provided it is configured for receiving such invoices. Due to the significant implementation efforts required, a transition period will apply for the issuance of e-invoices.
As of: November 2024 Changes and errors excepted.
Note
Inform yourself about the tax regulations applicable to your business by contacting your local tax office or the tax authority.
Starting January 1, 2025, companies in the B2B sector must be able to receive and process electronic invoices in XRechnung or ZUGFeRD formats. By January 1, 2027, they will also be required to issue and send invoices in these formats. Xentral supports you in both processes – from receiving to sending e-invoices.
Steps:
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Download the E-Invoice: Receive an E-invoice from a supplier and download it to your computer.
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Upload the Invoice to Xentral: Open the liabilities module in Xentral. There, you can upload the downloaded E-invoice.
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Save the Invoice: After successfully uploading the invoice, save it for further processing, management, or forwarding to your accountant.
Steps:
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Invoice Dispatch to Customers: Your system automatically sends invoices to your customers via email in two formats:
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PDF in ZUGFeRD format (readable with any PDF viewer)
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XRechnung
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Flexibility for Your Customers: Your customers can choose the format that suits their needs and simply ignore the other.
As of: July 2024
Starting January 1, 2025, businesses in the B2B sector must enable the receipt of e-invoices. This means a company can send you an e-invoice instead of a PDF or paper invoice without requiring your consent. Due to the significant implementation efforts, there will likely be a transition period for issuing e-invoices.
Xentral Ongoing Developments:
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Receiving an E-Invoice: When redeeming in the liabilities module, we will support X-Invoice and ZUGFeRD formats. This feature is expected to be available in the beta version from Q4/2024 and is in accordance with the legal requirement for B2B transactions.
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Sending an E-Invoice: In the invoice dispatch process, we will support X-Invoice and ZUGFeRD formats. The implementation period depends on the legal requirements for B2B transactions and the transition periods.
As of: July 2024 Changes and errors excepted.