Reference
Markdown exportZUGFeRD BASIC profile
The BASIC profile provides structured line items and totals for simple automation scenarios.
Profile overview
ZUGFeRD BASIC is the practical next step after BASIC WL when you need machine-readable line items for goods or services, but do not yet need the full EN 16931 compliance scope.
Recommended for
Use these points as the practical checks for this section.
- B2B invoices needing line-level automation
- Systems that reconcile quantities and prices automatically
What it typically includes
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- Structured line items (quantity, unit codes, prices)
- Totals and taxes
- Basic references (order/contract) where applicable
Limitations
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- May not satisfy EN 16931 mandates for specific recipients
- Some advanced tax and reference scenarios may require higher profiles
Typical use cases
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- Automated AP posting with line-level matching
- Simple goods invoicing with quantities and unit codes
Specification references
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- GuidelineID: urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#compliant#urn:factur-x.eu:1p0:basic
- PDF/A-3 conformance: PDF/A-3 (ISO 19005-3:2012)
- Embedded XML filename: factur-x.xml
- AFRelationship attribute: Data
- XMP metadata: fx:DocumentType, fx:DocumentFileName, fx:Version, fx:ConformanceLevel
- FNFE-MPE reference: https://fnfe-mpe.org/factur-x/
How to choose this profile
Use these points as the practical checks for this section.
- Choose BASIC if your process depends on quantities, prices, and item-level matching.
- Stay on BASIC WL only when line details are intentionally kept outside the invoice payload.
- Use EN 16931 if the receiving side needs the compliance profile instead of a lighter commercial profile.
Implementation fit
Use the BASIC profile only after you confirm how much structured detail the recipient, archive, and validation process expects. If line-level automation, tax review, or downstream matching is important, choose the richer profile before you start converting production invoices.
Frequently asked questions
What makes BASIC different from BASIC WL?
BASIC includes structured line items, which makes it better for quantity matching, item-level validation, and simple automation based on rows.
Is BASIC enough for invoice automation?
Yes for many commercial workflows. If your workflow needs detailed tax rules, public-sector requirements, or strict semantic compliance, EN 16931 is the safer choice.
Can BASIC be used for service invoices as well as goods?
Yes. It works for both, as long as the sender can express the relevant line details, totals, and references in structured form.
Create a ZUGFeRD file
Convert a PDF invoice to ZUGFeRD and choose the best matching profile.