Leitweg-ID Guide: Format, Examples & Routing Rules (2026)
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How to obtain, format, and validate a Leitweg-ID when a German public-sector recipient requires it in BT-10.
Routing references for German public-sector XRechnung invoices.
German routing ID required for many public sector recipients (B2G).
A buyer-assigned value used to route the invoice inside the buyer’s organisation
Leitweg-ID: Your Key to Successful XRechnung Invoicing in Germany
The Leitweg-ID is the buyer reference (Business Term BT-10) that identifies the public-sector recipient of an XRechnung invoice. If it is missing, invalid, or entered in the wrong field, the recipient or submission platform may reject the invoice or be unable to route it correctly.
Invoice-Converter.com places the buyer reference in BT-10 and runs technical checks during conversion. Use the Leitweg-ID supplied by the public authority.
What is a Leitweg-ID?
The Leitweg-ID is a unique electronic routing address used in Germany's public administration. It functions like an electronic postal code, ensuring that your XRechnung invoice reaches the exact department or agency responsible for processing and paying it.
Structure of a Leitweg-ID (Grobstruktur & Feinstruktur)
A Leitweg-ID is a structured identifier of 5 to 46 characters, made up of alphanumeric segments separated by hyphens.
- Grobstruktur (coarse structure): 2 to 12 digits assigned by the administration. At federal level the prefixes 991 and 992 are common on OZG-RE.
- Feinstruktur (fine addressing): the recipient-specific organisation or unit code. It is optional and can be empty or up to 30 characters, so a short Leitweg-ID is not automatically a truncated one.
- Check digit: two digits calculated with Modulo 97. A typo earlier in the identifier almost always breaks this digit, so a check-digit failure usually means "retype the value", not "request a new ID".
Example Format: 991-03730-19 (illustrative only). Your public authority must provide the actual Leitweg-ID for the order.
Federal (Bund) vs. State (Bundesländer) Routing Rules
Germany operates under a federal structure, meaning submission portals and Leitweg-ID rules differ between levels of government:
- Federal Authorities: Federal invoices are submitted through the Online Access Act-compliant Invoice Submission Platform (OZG-RE). The former ZRE platform was consolidated into OZG-RE on 19 September 2025. Check the recipient's instructions for the applicable submission channel and Leitweg-ID.
- State and municipal authorities: Submission channels and requirements vary by recipient. Follow the instructions in the order or contract and use the Leitweg-ID supplied by the public authority.
How to Obtain a Leitweg-ID
- Official Purchase Order: Check the official order document or contract from the public authority.
- Contact the Recipient: Request the Leitweg-ID directly from your contact person at the procurement office.
- Official platform guidance: Consult the recipient's e-invoicing portal documentation. There is no single public lookup directory for every Leitweg-ID.
Using the Leitweg-ID in XRechnung XML
The Leitweg-ID must be placed strictly in the BuyerReference element (BT-10). In UBL XML, this is /Invoice/cbc:BuyerReference. In CII XML (ZUGFeRD/XRechnung CII), it belongs in /rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice/rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement/ram:BuyerReference.
What the Leitweg-ID check covers
Our PDF to XRechnung workflow checks syntax, length, and the Modulo 97 check digit. This technical check does not confirm recipient acceptance or that the buyer supplied the correct ID.
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