Overview
To support compliance with German e-invoicing requirements, we are introducing an update to how PDF eInvoice validates ZUGFeRD invoices.
As part of this change, our system will no longer accept ZUGFeRD documents that use the Minimum or BasicWL profiles, are failing validation or are Zugferd 1.0.
What Is Changing?
PDF eInvoice will validate the ZUGFeRD profile contained within the submitted invoice and reject documents:
- Zugferd 1.0 files will not be accepted as an eInvoice.
- Invalid Zugferd files (marked as Zugferd via XMP metadata but failing validation) will not be accepted as an eInvoice.
- A Zugferd 2.x file with a profile Minimum or BasicWL
Only ZUGFeRD profiles that comply with the German e-invoicing requirements will be accepted, including:
- urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#conformant#urn:factur-x.eu:1p0:extended
- urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017
- urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#compliant#urn:factur-x.eu:1p0:basic
- urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#compliant#urn:xeinkauf.de:kosit:xrechnung_3.0
- urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#compliant#urn:xeinkauf.de:kosit:xrechnung_3.0#conformant#urn:xeinkauf.de:kosit:extension:xrechnung_3.0
Current Supported formats: Zugferd: 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3
The ZUGFeRD XML file that is attached to the PDF should have one of the following name:
- factur-x.xml
- xrechnung.xml
- zugferd-invoice.xml
Deployment Timeline
|
Environment |
Date |
|
Preproduction |
12 September 2026 |
|
Production |
Planned for 19 September 2026 |
Why Is This Change Being Introduced?
Germany's e-invoicing mandate requires electronic invoices to comply with specific standards. The Minimum and BasicWL profiles do not meet the requirements of the mandate and are therefore not considered compliant electronic invoices.
This update helps ensure that invoices processed through PDF eInvoice align with applicable regulatory requirements and industry standards.
What Does This Mean for You?
If your suppliers submit ZUGFeRD invoices that are not compliant:
- The invoice will be rejected during processing.
- The supplier will receive a validation error.
- The invoice will need to be regenerated and resubmitted using a supported profile.
How to check the profile of a ZUGFeRD document?
- Open the PDF and click on this icon
.
- Open the embedded XML file. The ZUGFeRD XML file that is attached to the PDF should have one of the follwing name:
- factur-x.xml
- xrechnung.xml
- zugferd-invoice.xml
- Search for the document context parameter tag in the XML header.
(<ram:GuidelineSpecifiedDocumentContextParameter>).
- For a BASIC WL profile, the ID value inside <ram:ID> will explicitly reference basicwl or BASICWL
<ram:GuidelineSpecifiedDocumentContextParameter>
<ram:ID>urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#conformant#urn:ferd-net.de:closure:basicwl</ram:ID>
</ram:GuidelineSpecifiedDocumentContextParameter>
- For the Minimum profile, the ID string will explicitly reference minimum (e.g., urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#conformant#urn:factur-x.eu:1p0:minimum).
Recommended Actions
We recommend that customers:
- Review ZUGFeRD invoice generation settings with their suppliers.
- Confirm that suppliers are using compliant ZUGFeRD profiles.
- Update any invoice generation processes that currently produce Minimum or BasicWL profiles.
Taking these steps in advance will help avoid processing interruptions once the validation change takes effect.
Additional Information
For information about ZUGFeRD profiles and compliance requirements, please refer to the official FERD documentation:
Will existing invoice processing be impacted?
Only invoices submitted with non-compliant ZUGFeRD XMLs will be affected. Invoices using supported profiles, valid content and newer formats (2.0 or newer) will continue to process normally.
What should suppliers do if they receive a validation error?
Suppliers should update their invoice generation solution to produce a supported ZUGFeRD document and then resubmit the invoice.
Important: To ensure uninterrupted invoice processing and compliance with German e-invoicing requirements, customers should verify that all ZUGFeRD invoices are generated using supported profiles before submitting them.