Free ZUGFeRD, Factur-X
& XRechnung Validator
Upload a PDF or XML invoice and instantly check EN 16931 compliance. Every Business Term from BT-1 to BT-158 mapped and validated, with full XRechnung 3.0 support.
Drag & drop your invoice here
or click to browse · PDF up to 5 MB or XML up to 1 MB
How it works
Upload your invoice
Drop a hybrid PDF (ZUGFeRD or Factur-X) or a standalone XRechnung UBL XML. Up to 5 MB for PDF, 1 MB for XML.
We extract & analyse
Our engine reads the embedded CII XML from PDFs or parses the UBL document directly, then checks every EN 16931 Business Term and the XRechnung 3.0 CIUS rules.
Get your report
Instantly see which fields are present, missing, and whether your invoice passes compliance.
What are ZUGFeRD, Factur-X and XRechnung?
ZUGFeRD and Factur-X are the same hybrid e-invoice format: a human-readable PDF with a machine-readable CII XML file embedded inside, following the EN 16931 European standard. ZUGFeRD is the name used in Germany and Austria, Factur-X in France. They are technically identical, with the same XML schema, the same Business Terms, and the same validation rules.
XRechnung is the German national CIUS (Core Invoice Usage Specification) of EN 16931 used for B2G invoicing with federal and state authorities. Unlike ZUGFeRD/Factur-X, XRechnung is delivered as a standalone UBL 2.1 XML file rather than embedded in a PDF, and it tightens EN 16931 with German-specific mandatory fields like the Leitweg-ID (BT-10).
Every compliant invoice maps its data to standardised Business Terms (BT-1 through BT-158) defined by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). These cover invoice number (BT-1), issue date (BT-2), currency (BT-5), seller name (BT-27), buyer name (BT-44), VAT breakdown, line items, payment instructions, and more.
Supported e-invoice formats and profiles
The validator supports the formats most widely used across Europe today:
- ZUGFeRD 2.x (including ZUGFeRD 2.4), the German hybrid PDF/XML format mandatory for B2B invoices in Germany from January 2025 under the e-Rechnung Pflicht
- Factur-X 1.x (including Factur-X 1.0.8), the French equivalent required for B2B invoicing in France under the facturation électronique reform
- XRechnung 3.0, a UBL-syntax CIUS of EN 16931 used for German B2G (ZRE / OZG-RE)
- EN 16931 CII profiles: Minimum, Basic WL, Basic, Comfort (EN 16931), and Extended
The validator detects the profile from the CustomizationID or guideline identifier and reports it alongside the compliance result.
Why validate your e-invoices?
With e-invoicing mandates rolling out across the EU, including Germany's e-Rechnung Pflicht from 2025, France's facturation électronique obligatoire from 2026 to 2027, and similar requirements in Italy, Poland, Romania, and Belgium, sending a non-compliant invoice can have real consequences:
- Your client's accounting system may reject the invoice if mandatory XML fields are missing
- Missing or incorrect VAT category codes (BT-118, BT-151) can cause your client to lose their VAT deduction
- In France, fines start at €15 per non-compliant invoice, capped at €15,000 per year
- In Italy, penalties range from 90% to 180% of the VAT amount on the invoice
Running your invoices through this validator before sending them helps catch missing fields and compliance issues before they cause problems downstream.
Frequently asked questions
What is a ZUGFeRD or Factur-X invoice?
ZUGFeRD and Factur-X are the same hybrid e-invoice format. A human-readable PDF contains a machine-readable CII XML file embedded inside, following the EN 16931 European e-invoicing standard. ZUGFeRD is the name used in Germany, Factur-X in France. They are technically identical.
How does the validator check my invoice?
For a PDF upload the validator extracts the embedded Cross-Industry Invoice (CII) XML, detects the profile (Minimum, Basic WL, Basic, EN 16931/Comfort, Extended, XRechnung), and maps every Business Term (BT-1 through BT-158) against the EN 16931 specification. For an XRechnung XML upload the UBL document is parsed directly and checked against the XRechnung 3.0 CIUS rules. Mandatory fields must be present for compliance.
Is my invoice data stored or shared?
No. All processing happens in server memory only. Your file is never written to disk, stored in a database, logged, or shared with third parties. It is discarded immediately after validation. The service is fully GDPR compliant.
What e-invoice formats are supported?
The validator supports ZUGFeRD 2.x (including 2.4), Factur-X 1.x (including 1.0.8), XRechnung 3.0 (UBL syntax), and all EN 16931 CII profiles. It also detects legacy ZUGFeRD 1.x invoices and warns about compatibility.
Is this validator free?
Yes, completely free with no signup required. There are no usage limits for normal use and no premium tier for validation.
What is the difference between ZUGFeRD and XRechnung?
ZUGFeRD is a hybrid format (PDF with embedded CII XML) used for B2B invoicing. XRechnung is a pure XML format (UBL 2.1) used for B2G invoicing with German federal and state authorities. Both follow EN 16931 but differ in their delivery format and use case. XRechnung also adds Germany-specific mandatory fields like the Leitweg-ID.
What does EN 16931 compliant mean?
EN 16931 is the European standard for electronic invoicing. A compliant invoice must include all mandatory Business Terms, such as invoice number (BT-1), issue date (BT-2), seller and buyer details, VAT breakdown, and totals, correctly structured in the CII or UBL XML.
Can I validate XRechnung invoices with this tool?
Yes. Upload your XRechnung UBL XML directly (no PDF needed). The validator runs the EN 16931 BR-* business rules and the XRechnung-specific tightenings (BT-10 Leitweg-ID, BT-34 seller endpoint, BT-49 buyer endpoint). Note that this tool does not yet implement the full KoSIT Schematron rule set; for ZRE/OZG-RE submission you may also want to run the official KoSIT validator.
Need compliant e-invoices automatically?
Facturwise generates ZUGFeRD, Factur-X and XRechnung e-invoices at the EN 16931 profile level on every invoice. All mandatory Business Terms, VAT calculations, and structured XML handled automatically. No manual setup, no compliance risk.
Create your first compliant e-invoice for free