In today’s business world, digitalization is key to improving efficiency and maintaining compliance, especially in invoicing. A few formats that stand out in the European Union (particularly in Germany and France) are XRechnung, ZUGFeRD or Factur-X.
The main driver for the adoption of electronic invoicing formats in the EU was Directive 2014/55/EU, which came into force in 2014. To comply with Directive 2014/55/EU, the EU established a semantic data model for core electronic invoices, called the European Norm EN 16931.
At the core of all these e-invoicing formats is XML (Extensible Markup Language). Each format uses a structured XML file that follows a specific schema or set of rules. These schemas define the structure, elements, and data types that must be included in the invoice, ensuring that the information can be easily interpreted and processed by both sending and receiving systems.
DocumentsCorePack allows you to generate your own XML files using Word templates. By aiming to provide a highly open and flexible solution, users can create the necessary XML files they need for the formats they must comply with.
Note: When viewing ZUGFeRD and FACTUR-X PDFs generated by the DocumentsCorePack Dialog, please be aware that not all PDF viewers can display the XML attachment. This especially applies to browsers.
Using XRechnung for E-Invoicing with DocumentsCorePack
XRechnung is an electronic invoice format more specifically tailored to public procurement.
With electronic invoicing becoming the new norm, especially when dealing with public authorities, having a tool that can handle complex formats like XRechnung is crucial. Thankfully, DocumentsCorePack can generate XML files as required for such standards, as shown in this article.
Note: To generate XML files, please update your DocumentsCorePack Server version to 2024.2
Using ZUGFeRD/FACTUR-X
ZUGFeRD and FACTUR-X are hybrid e-invoicing formats used primarily in Germany and France. They combine a PDF/A-3 file with embedded XML data, meaning the invoice is both human-readable (PDF) and machine-readable (XML) within the same document. This format is ideal for businesses that need to issue invoices that can be processed manually or automatically.
Through the use our One-Click-Actions, DocumentsCorePack can be used to generate ZUGFeRD and FACTUR-X compliant documents.
Note: For more information on creating ZUGFeRD/FACTUR-X compliant documents, please see this article.
Disclaimer
DocumentsCorePack focuses exclusively on generating electronic invoice structures based on provided data. It does not verify compliance with legal, tax, or financial regulations and does not ensure the validity of the generated documents in specific jurisdictions. Users are responsible for ensuring that the content of the invoices meets all applicable national and international legal and tax requirements. Please consult with legal or financial experts to confirm the accuracy and compliance of your invoices.
Additionally, DocumentsCorePack does not perform any schema checks. Creating and maintaining valid, machine-readable XML is the responsibilty of the template creator. Because of this, we highly recommend validating generated documents using validation tools available online.
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