What is the difference between a PDF invoice and an XRechnung?
A PDF shows the invoice to people. An XRechnung is an XML file under EN 16931 and the BR-DE rules that software processes without retyping. Public buyers usually require XRechnung; a PDF is not enough there. In German domestic B2B, a PDF has been an "other invoice" (sonstige Rechnung), not an e-invoice, since 2025.
UBL or CII: which syntax should I choose?
Both are valid XRechnung syntaxes with the same content. Use the syntax your recipient names. Without a requirement, UBL is a good choice: it is our default, and Peppol uses it. You choose the syntax in the review step.
Do you send the XRechnung to the authority?
No. We create and validate the file; sending it is up to you. Use the channel the authority names, for example OZG-RE (direct federal administration, more than 170 indirect federal bodies and several Länder) and other state or municipal portals, or Peppol through your access point.
Do I need a subscription?
No, a subscription is optional: you can pay for each conversion on its own. The first subscription includes a free 3-day trial. You pay only when you download. If a paid single conversion fails because of a technical error that our support cannot fix, we refund it on request (money-back guarantee).
What happens if data is read incorrectly?
You check and correct every recognised field before you pay. Errors from the KoSIT validation block the XML download; warnings stay listed in the report. We refund only on request and only when the conversion fails because of a technical error that our support cannot fix; you make content corrections in the review step.
Do I have to issue e-invoices as a small business (Kleinunternehmer)?
No. Small businesses under § 19 UStG (Kleinunternehmer) are exempt from the German issuing duty, but they must be able to receive e-invoices. If a customer still asks for an e-invoice, you can create it here.
Does a passed validation give legal certainty?
No. The KoSIT validator confirms that structure and business rules are met. It does not check whether the service, amounts and VAT rate are correct, and it does not replace tax advice. A recipient can have additional requirements.
Do you check the Leitweg-ID?
We check that a buyer reference (BT-10) is present, as BR-DE-15 requires. We do not check whether the Leitweg-ID is structured correctly or belongs to the authority. The authority gives you the correct ID; our Leitweg-ID guide explains its structure.