Guide
Markdown exportDIN EN 16931-1
The European standard for electronic invoicing. Foundation for cross-border e-invoice compliance in the EU.
About DIN EN 16931-1
DIN EN 16931-1 is the European standard for electronic invoicing, published in April 2017. It defines a semantic data model for electronic invoices and creates the foundation for unified e-invoicing across the European Union.
EU-wide Mandate from 2025
The ViDA regulation makes the use of EN 16931-1 standard mandatory for all B2B transactions in the EU from 2025.
Core Requirements
Use these points as the practical checks for this section.
- Unique invoice identification
- Invoice date and due date
- Seller and buyer information
- Complete address data
- Tax information and VAT
- Currency codes per ISO 4217
- Invoice line item details
- Payment information
Benefits of Standardization
Cross-border Trade
Unified standard for EU-wide business transactions
Cost Reduction
Automated processing reduces manual effort by up to 80%
Legal Certainty
Compliance with European and national legislation
Future-proofing
Preparation for EU-wide e-invoicing mandate from 2025
Compliance Checklist
Use these points as the practical checks for this section.
- Validation against EN 16931-1 schema
- Structured data format (XML/UBL/CII)
- Complete business partner information
- Correct tax calculations
- Unique document references
- Compliance with local tax laws
- Digital signature (if required)
- Long-term archiving requirements
National Implementations
| Compliance Guides | Adoption | DIN EN 16931-1 |
|---|---|---|
| XRechnung | 95% | Germany |
| Factur-X/ZUGFeRD | 85% | Germany/France |
| FatturaPA | 100% | Italy |
| UBL | 70% | EU-wide |
| PEPPOL BIS | 60% | EU-wide |
Important Dates
2017
EN 16931-1 publication
2020
Mandatory acceptance B2G
2030
EU-wide B2B mandate (ViDA)