What is the difference between ZUGFeRD and Factur-X?

None in the file: ZUGFeRD 2.5.2 and Factur-X 1.09.2 are the same specification, published jointly by FeRD and FNFE-MPE. ZUGFeRD is the name used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland; Factur-X is the name used in France.

Which profiles count as an invoice in Germany?

BASIC, EN 16931 (formerly Comfort), EXTENDED and XRECHNUNG. MINIMUM and BASIC WL do not carry all mandatory invoice details and are not accepted as invoices under the German Finance Ministry's letter of 15 October 2025.

Can I send ZUGFeRD to German federal authorities?

Only in the XRECHNUNG profile (available since ZUGFeRD 2.1.1), through the OZG-RE platform. The EXTENDED profile is not XRechnung-conformant.

Checking is free. The first verified download every 30 days is free. After that €1.90 per invoice, or €9 a month for all of them. Checking needs no account. You only pay when a file has passed the check and you download it.

Do you fix my invoice automatically?

No. We never change amounts, line items or taxes. Where mandatory details are missing, you supply them, we enter them and check the file again. If the export from your invoicing system is structurally broken, you get the error report for your software support, free of charge.

ZUGFeRD Validator — Checking is free

We check your ZUGFeRD/Factur-X invoice against EN 16931 and its profile, fill the missing mandatory details with you and re-check. No account. Checking is free. The first verified download every 30 days is free. After that €1.90 per invoice, or €9 a month for all of them.

Choose invoice fileor drop it anywhere in this box

Accepts a normal PDF, Excel or photo of an invoice (we build the e-invoice from it) and XRechnung, Factur-X, Peppol, ZUGFeRD and other EU e-invoice files

Checking is free.Finished e-invoice: €1.90.First file every 30 days free.No sign-up.

No file yet? Fill in the form

Your file is used only to check and fix your invoice and to deliver your result. Results are kept so you can download a verified file again for 90 days; validation logs are deleted after 90 days. You can request deletion at any time.

What this check settles

Details are missingYou supply them, we enter them and check again. Amounts, line items and taxes stay unchanged.

The export is structurally brokenYou get the error report for your ERP support: rule, position in the file, expected structure. Free.

The file passes the checkDownload only then, with check protocol, timestamp and checksum. Publicly verifiable.

What we check

EN 16931 Core RulesMandatory fields (BR-01 through BR-65) · Tax calculation and rounding · Code list validation (currency, country, unit codes) · CII namespace and document structure

ZUGFeRD/Factur-X ProfilesProfile detection (Minimum through Extended) · Profile-specific mandatory fields · DATEV import compatibility

PDF/A EmbeddingPDF/A-3b conformance (ICC profile, embedded fonts) · Factur-x.xml attachment extraction · Profile match between PDF and XML · Metadata and XMP validation

How it works

01Upload PDF or XMLUpload your ZUGFeRD PDF or extracted CII XML. It is checked on our servers.

02Engine validatesThe invoice is checked against EN 16931 and its profile. Missing details you supply are entered and the file is checked again; amounts, line items and taxes stay unchanged.

03Download compliant invoiceOnce the file passes, download it with its check record: timestamp and checksum.

Common ZUGFeRD rejections

FORMAT-002PDF/A-3 conformance failure (missing ICC profile)FORMAT-004Profile mismatch between PDF and XML CII-SR-001Invalid CII namespace declaration CII-SR-002Missing ExchangedDocumentContext BR-DE-01Missing Leitweg-ID (Extended profile B2G)All error codes, explained →

ZUGFeRD validator FAQ

What is the difference between ZUGFeRD and Factur-X?: None in the file: ZUGFeRD 2.5.2 and Factur-X 1.09.2 are the same specification, published jointly by FeRD and FNFE-MPE. ZUGFeRD is the name used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland; Factur-X is the name used in France.
Which profiles count as an invoice in Germany?: BASIC, EN 16931 (formerly Comfort), EXTENDED and XRECHNUNG. MINIMUM and BASIC WL do not carry all mandatory invoice details and are not accepted as invoices under the German Finance Ministry's letter of 15 October 2025.
Can I send ZUGFeRD to German federal authorities?: Only in the XRECHNUNG profile (available since ZUGFeRD 2.1.1), through the OZG-RE platform. The EXTENDED profile is not XRechnung-conformant.
Is checking free?: Checking is free. The first verified download every 30 days is free. After that €1.90 per invoice, or €9 a month for all of them. Checking needs no account. You only pay when a file has passed the check and you download it.
Do you fix my invoice automatically?: No. We never change amounts, line items or taxes. Where mandatory details are missing, you supply them, we enter them and check the file again. If the export from your invoicing system is structurally broken, you get the error report for your software support, free of charge.
Where is my file checked, and is it stored?: On our servers, not in your browser. Your file is used only to check and fix your invoice and to deliver your result. Results are kept so you can download a verified file again for 90 days; validation logs are deleted after 90 days. You can request deletion at any time.

Learn

E-Invoicing Deadlines What is ZUGFeRD?

Countries

E-Invoicing in France E-Invoicing in Germany

Glossary

PDF/A-3

Answers

Is PDF still acceptable for invoicing in the EU?

Blog

Factur-X: The Technical Reference (XML, Profiles, EN 16931 Mapping)ZUGFeRD 2.5 and Factur-X: What ERP Vendors Need to Ship Before the May 20, 2026 Release

Your dataYour file is used only to check and fix your invoice and to deliver your result. Results are kept so you can download a verified file again for 90 days; validation logs are deleted after 90 days. You can request deletion at any time.