The Invoice payment method lets you define how customers pay by invoice in Xentral. In the settings, you specify labels, payment terms, optional cash discount details, and the placement of a GiroCode for direct payments.
In this article:
Steps:
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Navigate to Settings > Accounting > Payments & Business Accounts > Payment Methods.
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Select Add payment method or open an existing payment method of the type Invoice.
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Add new payment method: Select 'Module: Invoice'. Enter a new type label, e.g. 'rechnung_B2B'. Select 'Behavior like: Invoice'.
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Edit the payment method: For example, add a Payment account, Text on document, and other fields as needed. Define whether invoices should be automatically marked as paid.
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Click on Save.
Caution
If you only want to edit the texts, do not create a new payment method — instead, edit the existing default payment methods in Xentral.
If you do create a new payment method for Invoice, note that it exists in parallel to the standard Invoice payment method already included in Xentral (Module: Invoice). Do not use an identical type label — assign a unique type label to the new payment method that behaves like Invoice and uses the Invoice module, e.g. rechnung_b2b.
In the lower section, you can define the texts for payment terms. Xentral differentiates between immediately (0 days payment target) and payment target > 1 day.
Field name |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Satz in Rechnung: (sofort) (DE) |
Text displayed on invoices with no payment target (due immediately). Enter the notice text here, e.g. "Rechnung zahlbar sofort." |
|
Satz in Rechnung: (>= 1 Tag) (DE) |
Text displayed on invoices with a payment target. You can use variables such as {ZAHLUNGSZIELTAGE} and {ZAHLUNGBISDATUM}, e.g. "Rechnung zahlbar innerhalb {ZAHLUNGSZIELTAGE} Tage bis zum {ZAHLUNGBISDATUM}". |
|
Satz in Angebot/Auftrag: (sofort) (DE) |
Text displayed in quotes or orders with no payment target. Define the notice text shown when payment is due immediately. |
|
Satz in Angebot/Auftrag: (>= 1 Tag) (DE) |
Text displayed in quotes or orders with a payment target. You can use variables such as {ZAHLUNGSZIELTAGE} and {ZAHLUNGBISDATUM}. |
|
Eigener Skontotext |
Custom text for cash discount notices. Enter a custom cash discount text here if you do not want to use the default text. |
|
Satz in Angebot/Auftrag (DE) |
General payment notice text for quotes or orders. |
|
Satz in Rechnung (DE) |
General payment notice text for invoices. |
Tip
You can also use variables from the address master data.
These must always begin with the prefix ADRESSE_, e.g. ADRESSE_NAME for the customer name or ADRESSE_BANK and ADRESSE_IBAN for bank details.
In the text field for cash discount settings, you can centrally store a cash discount notice for quotes/orders and one for invoices.
You can define which texts appear on your documents. Depending on the settings, these texts are automatically inserted on quotes, orders, invoices, and credit notes. You can use variables that are automatically replaced with the relevant information and amounts when the document is created.
Variable |
Description |
|---|---|
|
{ZAHLUNGBISDATUM} |
Date by which payment is due. |
|
{ZAHLUNGSZIELTAGE} |
Number of days the customer has to make payment. |
|
{SOLL} |
Total invoice amount (gross). |
|
{BELEGNR} |
Document number of the invoice or document. |
|
{NAME} |
Name of the customer or invoice recipient. |
|
{STEUERNORMAL} |
Tax amount at the standard tax rate. |
|
{GESAMTNETTONORMAL} |
Net amount at the standard tax rate. |
|
{STEUERERMAESSIGT} |
Tax amount at the reduced tax rate. |
|
{GESAMTNETTOERMAESSIGT} |
Net amount at the reduced tax rate. |
|
{WAEHRUNG} |
Currency of the invoice (e.g. EUR, USD). |
Cash discount text:
In the text field for cash discount settings, you can centrally store a cash discount notice for quotes/orders and one for invoices.
Note
These texts are only used when a cash discount greater than 0% is stored in the document.
To display cash discount information dynamically in the text, you can insert the following variables into the cash discount text:
Variable |
Description |
|---|---|
|
{ZAHLUNGSZIELSKONTO} |
Percentage of the cash discount granted. Dynamically calculated on the total amount, with cash-discount-blocked items offset. |
|
{ZAHLUNGSZIELSKONTOTOTAL} |
Percentage of the cash discount granted. Fixed value in the document, without consideration of cash-discount-blocked items. |
|
{ZAHLUNGSZIELTAGESKONTO} |
Number of days for which the cash discount is granted. |
|
{ZAHLUNGSZIELSKONTODATUM} |
Date until which the cash discount is granted. |
|
{SOLLMITSKONTO} |
Total amount minus cash discount. Cash-discount-blocked items are taken into account. |
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{SKONTOBETRAG} |
Amount by which the payment is reduced through the cash discount. |
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{SKONTOFAEHIG} |
Total amount (gross) of line items eligible for cash discount, excluding cash-discount-blocked items. |
|
{SKONTOFAEHIGNETTO} |
Total amount (net) of line items eligible for cash discount, excluding cash-discount-blocked items. |
Note
Cash discount notices – usage examples:
The following text templates are sample formulations for cash discount notices in quotes, orders, and invoices. Always align the specific wording, amount display, and tax treatment with your tax advisor before using them in your business.
Example 1 – Classic & brief:
Bei Zahlung innerhalb {ZAHLUNGSZIELTAGESKONTO} Tagen gewähren wir {ZAHLUNGSZIELSKONTO}% Skonto.
Rechnungsbetrag mit Skonto: {SOLLMITSKONTO} EUR.
Nach dem {ZAHLUNGSZIELSKONTODATUM} ist der volle Rechnungsbetrag fällig.
Example 2 – Invoice amount & discount amount visible:
Zahlen Sie innerhalb von {ZAHLUNGSZIELTAGESKONTO} Tagen und sparen Sie {SKONTOBETRAG} EUR ({ZAHLUNGSZIELSKONTO}% Skonto).
Rechnungsbetrag mit Skonto: {SOLLMITSKONTO} EUR.
Example 3 – For quotes/orders:
Bei Auftragserteilung mit Zahlungseingang innerhalb von {ZAHLUNGSZIELTAGESKONTO} Tagen erhalten Sie {ZAHLUNGSZIELSKONTO}% Skonto.
Das entspricht einem Abzug von {SKONTOBETRAG} EUR auf skontofähige Positionen.
Example 4 – Detailed B2B variant:
Skontofähiger Nettobetrag: {SKONTOFAEHIGNETTO} EUR
Bei Zahlung bis {ZAHLUNGSZIELSKONTODATUM} gewähren wir {ZAHLUNGSZIELSKONTO}% Skonto (= {SKONTOBETRAG} EUR).
Gesamtbetrag mit Skonto: {SOLLMITSKONTO} EUR.
The GiroCode is a standardized QR code for SEPA transfers used in Germany. It contains all essential payment data such as IBAN, BIC, recipient, amount, and payment reference. Using a banking app in Germany or other SEPA countries, you can simply scan the code — the transfer form is filled in automatically. This saves time, reduces typing errors, and increases security. Typical use cases include invoices, donation requests, or online payment confirmations.
Steps for adding the GiroCode:
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Open the Settings of the desired payment method in Xentral (e.g. Invoice).
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Activate the option QR aktivieren.
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Enter your bank details in the QR IBAN and QR BIC fields.
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Adjust the position of the QR code if needed:
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Platzierung von links – distance in mm from the left margin (default: 160 mm).
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Platzierung von oben – distance in mm from the top margin (default: 30 mm).
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Save the settings.
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Create a test invoice to check the QR code.
Note
Example of stored account details in the QR code (GiroCode):
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Recipient: Musterfirma GmbH
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IBAN: DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00
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BIC: COBADEFFXXX
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Amount: 123.45 EUR
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Payment reference: RE 402286
GiroCode fields:
Field name |
Description |
|---|---|
|
QR aktivieren |
Activate this option to print a GiroCode (QR code) for payment on invoices. |
|
QR IBAN |
IBAN of the bank account to which the customer transfers via GiroCode. |
|
QR BIC |
BIC of the bank account to which the customer transfers via GiroCode. |
|
Platzierung von links |
Distance of the QR code from the left margin in millimeters. If no value is entered, Xentral uses the default value of 160 mm. |
|
Platzierung von oben |
Distance of the QR code from the top margin in millimeters. If no value is entered, Xentral uses the default value of 30 mm. |
Note
In Switzerland, there is a separate system for this — the Swiss QR Code — which should not be confused with the German GiroCode. You can find information on how to set up the Swiss QR Code in the article Swiss QR invoice - Swiss QR Code.