Create XRechnung – Tools Overview 2023 + Instructions!

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The XRechnung is the official data exchange standard for electronic invoices which was decided by the German legislator on the basis of an EU standard. Your invoice will be saved as an XML file, which can then also be read electronically. But how do you create such an XRechnung?

Various ways lead to the XRechnung

Basically, you have several options for creating an XRechnung. The decisive factor in making the right choice is the way you create your invoices.

Option 1: Create an XRechnung with a billing program

Anyone who issues a large number of invoices a year and also wants to make sure that the invoices created comply with the law and possibly also wants to install a reminder system, we recommend using a billing schedule use. The choice is huge: from small computer programs to EXEL-based solutions to cloud providers who advertise with professionally designed invoice templates. Below in the text is a list of invoicing programs and if and how they can handle the XRechnung format or other electronic invoice formats like ZUGFeRD.

Option 2: Create XRechnung with accounting programs

It doesn't matter how – somehow every entrepreneur has to do accounting – e.g. create a statement of your income and expenditure compliant with the tax office. In the case of particularly small companies and small entrepreneurs, this is usually still done with home remedies: Excel and Elster lists for data exchange with the tax office. However, tax returns and therefore accounting have long been so complex that an accounting program is worth using. In two important specialist articles, we have major accounting programswhich you can use on your computer and the online accounting programs prepared for you. You can find out which of the accounting programs supports you in creating an XRechnung and how it works later in the text.

Option 3: Create an XRechnung with XRechnung generators

Every technical innovation also brings with it new services… some providers have them The need to simply create an XRechnung has already been implemented. These XRechnung generators do without all the frills of creating invoices for your accounting, archive function or cleverly designed templates. It doesn't even need it for pure XRechnung: because these formats, which can be read by machines (i.e. other computers), are not pretty but purely functional.

THE Advantage of XRechnungs generators: With just a few clicks you have entered all important invoice data and created an XRechnung. Download, submit to authorities, done. The downside: You actually have to manually transfer all of your billing information to the generator. As a result, you have an XRechnung, but this is not a readable format for your filing and neither for your business partner to send him a copy in advance for checking and approval. All archiving (attention: there are also retention periods for XRechnung as an electronic invoice!), archiving and other administration have not yet taken place.

You can find out which XRechnung generators there are and which functions they offer later in the text.

Important data for creating an XRechnung file

In addition to typical invoice data (such as recipient, invoice issuer, date, total, service, etc.), XRechnung also contains some information that makes XRechnung legally compliant.

Basic requirement: ZRE membership!

The transmission of electronic invoices to the corresponding federal customers must be made through the federal government's Central Invoice Receipt Platform (ZRE).

A prerequisite for this is one Registration with the ZRE. By the way: this only applies to invoices to the Confederation. If you have state and common invoices, these may also be processed through the ZRE. But it's not necessary. You can find out how the respective federal state wants its XRechnung in the E-Invoicing Forum Germany here online.

Mandatory fields for your XRechnung

The E-Rech-VO of the federal government requires the following mandatory fields for the creation of your XRechnung from the federal government:

• Path ID
• Bank account details
• terms of payment
• De-Mail or e-mail address of the biller
• Supplier number (if already assigned)
• Order number (if already assigned)

Where do you get the Routing ID?

The Central Department of Confederation Finance (ZFB) is responsible for invoices to the Confederation. Further information on applying for the Leitweg-ID can be requested from the ZFB via erechnung@zrb.bund.de. Depending on the federal state, who can tell you that the statewide routing ID must be from Document the current implementation status of countries choose.

eInvoice not as XRechnung but with ZUGFeRD

There is another standard for electronic invoices, called ZUGFeRD. In principle, you can also use it to create invoices for the authorities – unfortunately it is not entirely clear whether and how this will be accepted by the authorities in practice.

What is ZUGFeRD?

Together with associations, companies and authorities, the Electronic Invoice Germany Forum has developed a uniform billing data format for the exchange of electronic invoices under the name ZUGFeRD (Central User Guide for the Electronic Invoice Germany Forum). The format was ready before the XRechnung and has some technical advantages. XRechnung is optimized for German authorities, ZUGFeRD has oriented itself more closely to the needs of the economy and, with version 2.0, has also integrated all XRechnung specifications.

In particular, for anyone who uses an invoicing program or an accounting program, the question arises whether the software can handle both the XRechnungs standard and ZUGFeRD 2.1 (current version) as well as the internationally widespread Factur-X and above all in France. We also asked for some in this list.

Create an XRechnung with a billing and accounting program

At least leading providers of accounting tools need a certified electronic invoice for XRechnung or ZUGFeRD recognized and implemented. Even smaller individual cloud providers like Billomat. little count! and BuchhaltungsButler have the topic on their screens and are currently working on the implementation.

Create XRechnung with sevDesk

sevDesk also integrated the electronic invoice specifications in time for November 2020. And this is how it works (according to the sevDesk forum): In sevDesk you can easily create electronic invoices according to the ZUGFeRD 2 standard. With activated ZUGFeRD 2 function, in addition to normal invoices and credit notes in PDF format, a digital and machine-readable document in XML format is created and attached directly to the PDF. The ZUGFeRD 2 standard must be activated, per invoice or globally for all invoices. Since some customers, including Deutsche Bahn AG for example, only accept XRechnung, sevDesk has now designed the service in such a way that a pure XRechnung is always available for download.

Try sevDesk now for free!

Create XRechnung with lexoffice

lexoffice, popular among founders, has integrated XRechnung into both its billing software and cloud-based accounting tool.

Try lexoffice now!

Create XRechnung with Zervant

With the Zervant invoicing program it is possible to send electronic invoices to companies and public administrations throughout Europe. The electronic invoice solutions are already integrated in the basic version. Xinvoices can be created for free and submitted manually, uploaded or submitted directly from Zervant. e-bills via Brambling they can already be created with Zervant in premium subscriptions, since the end of 2021 there have also been some ZUGFeRD-Invoices possible.

Try Zervant now!

Create XRechnung with Fastbill

The cloud-based accounting program Fastbill has also integrated XRechnung into its system: all invoices that you download as PDFs are now automatically sent as XRechnung as well.

Try Fastbill now!

Create XRechnung with Sage Financial Accounting

Sage offers various cloud-based financial accounting systems for small to large businesses. All offers include invoice generation XRechnungen, ZUGFeRD and also the French format Factur-X.

Try Sage 50 Cloud now!

Create XRechnung with Billomat

Billomat, a lean cloud-based accounting program, also offers electronic invoices in the form of XRechnung and ZUGFeRD.

Try Billomat now!

Create XRechnung with Lexware Accounting

Lexware has an entire family of products for invoicing, accounting and office organization. And the good news: Most of them support both XRechnung and ZUGFeRD. The XRechnung, ZUGFeRD 2.0 (basic/comfort) and signed formats for e-invoices are available in almost all Lexware products (as of version 2020).

Create XRechnung with Datev

The solutions for electronic invoices are also already integrated through Datev, the accounting software used by most tax firms. XRechnung, ZUGFeRD 2.1 are supported in all on-promise invoice writing products of Datev starting from version 14.0. Customers really don't have to worry about this: The system sends e-bills in accordance with the legal standard, without you having to worry about the correct invoice format. There is not Medium discontinuity in the billing and processing process, your business partners can use e-bill easily further processed by transmitting structured data and the transmission is secure.

Create XRechnung with generators

Specialized websites allow you to create XRechnung without having to work with an accounting or billing program. This applies to individual invoices, but as soon as you regularly create XRechnung or want services for your accounting, generators are not for you.

Create XRechnung with B2Brouter

B2Brouter is a cloud-based billing program that helps you create, download, send and receive invoices and other business documents in the right format over networks. With the free basic version, you can create and send an unlimited number of XRechnung and ZUGFeRD invoices via Peppol. The premium versions allow international billing in 120 countries or the simple connection of third-party systems via various interfaces. Other features include global connectivity, verified directory service, contact management, revision security, customer support, Peppol services and support for business processes such as orders, offers, shipping notifications, catalogs in various formats.

Trial version: Basic (free with no time limit)

Prices: Professional €100/year, Business €300/year, Enterprise from €300/year

Try B2Brouter now!

Create XRechnung with SimplyX

SimplyX has specialized in XRechnung and offers with x creator a simple XRechnung generator. You will be guided step by step to the finished XRechnung, you can save and archive invoice templates for recurring invoices at any time. ft. At the end, invoices X are automatically validated by the generator via the official check tool of the IT Standards Coordination Office (KoSIT). It's all done locally and offline, meaning your data stays with you. With the x viewer you can read XRechnung, in p convert it from machine language into a normal readable PDF.

Alternatively, EinfachX XCloud, the cloud-based counterpart of XCreator, can also be used since 2023. The range of functions is comparable, the difference is simply local versus browser-based installation without installation.

Trial version: With the EinfachX online demo you can get an idea of ​​how to use XCreator quickly, free and without registration and create officially valid X invoices up to a total amount of 100 euros, without any installation. There is a 30-day test phase for XCloud, free with full functionality and without restrictions.

Prices: xcreator €89.90 per user, xviewer €37.90 per user

Offer for Gründerküche readers: You can use EinfachX tools with a 5 percent discount to use, the voucher code is “grünerkueche” or “gruenderkueche”. All you have to do is enter the code in the cart and you will get the discount on the entire order.

Try it now.

Create XRechnung with Invoice-Portal.de

Invoice-Portal.de offers a cloud-based solution for billing and using Peppol. Special interfaces for Deutsche Bahn and government portals such as ZRE and OZG-RE are also supported and data interfaces for common ERP systems are offered via email, SFTP and API. Other Features: Invoice Templates, Invoice Receiving and Group Solutions.

Trial version: Try it for 30 days without obligation

Prices: Basic €15 per month (includes 25 invoices in XRechnung and ZUGFeRD formats), Standard €25 per month (includes 25 invoices in XRechnung, ZUGFeRD and PEPPOL BIS formats, as well as shipping to Deutsche Bahn, ZRE, OZG-RE or der Shipping via PEPPOL to all EU countries)

Try the Invoice Portal for free for 30 days!

Create an XRechnung with the generator from Nortal AG

The company has specialized in the creation of XRechnung, offers a free test and then also the possibility of further XRechnung after registration. If you want more services, that is also possible: With XRechnungs-Check you can check if your digital invoices match the specifications, with the viewer you can convert cryptic machine language into a readable PDF and with XRechnungs-Library you can do it all even by integrating into the your accounting workflow.

Prices: Individual XRechnung without archiving, own designs and free databases

Spiderweb: xinvoicegenerator.nortal.com

Create XRechnung with crossinx generator

With the x zero cloud solution, crossinx also offers a simple XRechnung generator: Simply register, enter your customer data, create an invoice and send it as an XRechnung or ZUGFeRD, for example. With the free registration you can also adapt the invoices to your company design (but this is irrelevant for digital invoices such as XRechnung) and send them by email.

You get more functions with crossinx xs channel ex channel comprehensive solutions, so you can integrate e-invoicing into your ERP system or realize worldwide invoice sending to more than 60 countries (with PEPPOL connection) as well as a blockchain archive, convenient tools for managing customers and campaigns in use.

Prices: x zero XRechnung free, other services: x channel €39 per month (plus €950 one-time fee) / xs channel €99 (plus €190 one-time fee) ei channels €190 per month (+€1,950 one-time fee)

Spiderweb: www.crossinx.com/de/x-zero

Create an XRechnung with the cosine generator

With the xrechnung.io service from cosinex GmbH, electronic invoices can also be created in the new XRechnung standard – the use of the basic functions is free of charge. Any number of invoices can be created, supporting documents can be added and the invoice can also be issued in a PDF document. Each invoice is validated during creation and can be easily corrected. Then you download the generated invoices and send them by email or via the ZRE portal.

Trial version: free basic version

Prices: 9 euros (Basic+), 16 euros (Professional), 49 euros (Mid Company), 119 euros (Enterprise) per month

Spiderweb: xbill.io

Overview of XRechnung suppliers by function and price (as of 2023)

Conclusion

Anyone who does their invoices digitally with an invoicing tool or even their entire accounting can create an XRechnung with most accounting and invoicing tools. A detailed Overview of online accounting tools you can find us too. We particularly recommend the service of B2 Brouter.

However, small businesses and especially freelancers who don't yet use an accounting tool can use XRechnung generators to create digital invoice forms easily and cost-effectively.