Here's How GetMyInvoices Helps You Comply with E-Invoicing Requirements

Starting January 1, 2025, the e-invoicing requirement will take effect in Germany. The two main formats for e-invoicing are XRechnung and ZUGFeRD. Here, we explain how GetMyInvoices can receive and process these for you, what these formats mean, and how they differ.

**How can e-invoices be imported and processed in GetMyInvoices

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With GetMyInvoices, you can comply with the e-invoice receipt requirement. To this end, our cloud-based solution includes the following features, among others:

• Download from Portals:

GetMyInvoices automatically retrieves supplier invoices from more than 10,000 online portals. To do this, users link our solution to the respective portals and enter their login credentials once. The documents, along with their history, are then retrieved from the platforms and uploaded to GetMyInvoices’ central document archive. In addition, our solution regularly checks whether new invoices are available for download. Furthermore, our system recognizes when invoices are due on a recurring basis and adjusts the timing accordingly.

• Import from Email:

GetMyInvoices automatically finds invoices in email inboxes and uploads them directly to the digital document archive. Users simply need to link their email accounts to our solution, which takes just a few steps. They can choose between different email providers via IMAP. GetMyInvoices logs all relevant details from the original email for each imported invoice, ensuring users comply with tax regulations.

• Export to accounting and/or forwarding to the tax advisor:

Once all incoming invoices have been collected and verified, a large part of the preparatory accounting work is already complete. The next step is to post the documents-either by your own staff or by your tax advisor. Fortunately, both XRechnung and ZUGFeRD invoices already contain the relevant data in XML format, which GetMyInvoices transfers either to the accounting system in use or to the tax advisor. To this end, our system features interfaces to nearly all accounting software products and tax advisor solutions, such as DATEV Unternehmen online , ADDISON OneClick , and Stotax Select .

• Archive invoices securely and in compliance with the law:

GetMyInvoices meets all legal requirements for archiving e-invoices, ensuring they are stored securely and in a way that is audit-proof.

**Supported profiles for GetMyInvoices

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GetMyInvoices supports all common e-invoice profiles in accordance with current standards. This includes:

• EN16931 Minimum
• EN16931 Basic
• EN16931 Basic WL
• EN16931 Comfort
• EN16931 Extended
• EN16931 XRechnung 1.x
• EN16931 XRechnung 2.x
• EN16931 XRechnung 3.x

In summary: With this comprehensive support, GetMyInvoices ensures compatibility with the most important requirements for electronic invoices. This ensures you’re fully prepared for the e-invoicing mandate. We not only help you comply with legal requirements but also optimize your accounting processes through automation and efficiency gains.

What is an XRechnung?

XRechnung is a structured data format developed specifically for the exchange of electronic invoices. It is based on the XML standard. This format complies with the European standard EN 16931, which defines the technical requirements for electronic invoices.

• Structured XML format: It is a purely machine-readable format that has been specifically optimized for automated processing.
• Compliance with legal requirements: The XRechnung complies with the legal requirements of EU Directive 2014/55/EU as well as Section 14 of the German Value-Added Tax Act (UStG).
• Mandatory in the public sector: This format is mandatory for invoices sent to public contracting authorities (e.g., city administrations, ministries).
• No visual representation: XRechnung is intended solely for electronic data exchange and is not suitable for manual viewing.

What is a ZUGFeRD invoice?

ZUGFeRD (Central User Guide of the German Electronic Invoicing Forum) is a hybrid invoice format that combines machine-readable XML data with a readable PDF document. This format is particularly well-suited for use between businesses (B2B) and offers a high level of user-friendliness.

• Hybrid format: Contains both XML data for automated processing and a PDF document that can be viewed manually.
• Flexible Applications: Suitable for exchanges with public sector entities (B2G) as well as between businesses (B2B).
• User-Friendly: Recipients without specialized software can easily open and read the PDF document.
• Various Profiles: There are different variants (e.g., Basic, Comfort, Extended) that can be used depending on requirements.

Differences Between XRechnung and ZUGFeRD

The XRechnung is a purely machine-readable XML format that has been specifically optimized for automated processing. It is frequently used for exchanges with public contracting authorities because it is strictly standardized and not suitable for manual viewing. Without special software, an XRechnung cannot be displayed visually.

In contrast, the ZUGFeRD invoice is a hybrid format that contains both machine-readable XML data and a readable PDF document. This format is more flexible and is suitable for use in the B2B sector. It allows for easy manual verification via the PDF portion and can be adapted to different requirements using various profiles (e.g., Basic, Comfort, Extended).

While XRechnung aims for maximum automation and standardization, ZUGFeRD offers greater user-friendliness and flexibility through its combination of XML and PDF.

Do you have any questions about e-invoicing? In this article, we answer the most common questions and provide helpful answers about e-invoicing .