Reference

ZUGFeRD BASIC WL profile

BASIC WL (“without lines”) focuses on header-level totals and parties, without structured line item details.

Profile overview

ZUGFeRD BASIC WL is the profile to read when you need a practical invoice PDF with structured header data, totals, and payment context, but no individual line items.

Interactive profile ladder

Five profiles, one line that matters

Each step adds data to the embedded XML. Select a profile to see what it contains and whether it counts as an e-invoice.

Germany: e-invoice from here

German reference profile

BASIC WL

Without linesAdds: VAT, payment

urn:factur-x.eu:1p0:basicwl

What it contains: Everything in MINIMUM plus the VAT breakdown, addresses and payment details. Still no line items.
Typical use: Bookkeeping imports that do not process individual lines.
Germany: Processing aidNot an e-invoice. Treated like a plain PDF (“other invoice”).
France: Not a reform profileToo little structured line data to serve as a complete invoice profile.

Sources: FeRD / FNFE-MPE ZUGFeRD and Factur-X specifications, BMF e-invoice FAQ, French e-invoicing reform. Status: October 2026. Not legal advice.

Recommended for

Bookkeeping and processing aids where line detail is not required
Controlled workflows that need header and total data

What it typically includes

Invoice header and parties
Totals and tax information
Payment information (basic)

Limitations

No structured line item data
Not a German structured e-invoice; it does not replace the EN 16931 profile

Legal status in Germany and France

Germany: BASIC WL does not count as an e-invoice under § 14 UStG. The tax authorities treat the file as an “other invoice”, like a plain PDF, so it does not meet the B2B e-invoice requirement.
France: Factur-X is one of the three base formats of the e-invoicing reform, alongside UBL and CII. Since 1 September 2026 all VAT-registered businesses must be able to receive e-invoices through a certified platform (plateforme agréée, formerly PDP); large enterprises and ETIs (companies between SME and large-enterprise size) must also issue them from that date; SMEs and micro-enterprises from 1 September 2027. The public invoicing portal (PPF) runs the directory and passes the data to the tax authority. Which Factur-X profiles are accepted is set by the official specifications and by your platform. Invoice Converter creates and validates files; it does not transmit invoices.

Typical use cases

Internal summary records where details stay in attachments
Controlled bookkeeping imports without line processing

Specification references

GuidelineID: urn:factur-x.eu:1p0:basicwl
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

Choose BASIC WL if your downstream system only needs invoice-level totals and party data.
Use BASIC when line items, quantities, and prices must be machine-readable.
Upgrade to EN 16931 when the recipient expects compliance-oriented structured data.

Use the BASIC WL 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

Why does BASIC WL have no line items?

It is designed for workflows where the invoice summary is enough and detailed rows stay in the source system, attachment, or separate document.

Is BASIC WL a good choice for simple AP automation?

Yes, when your automation only needs header data, totals, and payment information. If you need matching by quantity or item, BASIC is the better fit.

Can I use BASIC WL for compliance-heavy customers?

Only if the customer accepts that profile. In Germany BASIC WL does not meet the e-invoice requirement, and many compliance-oriented workflows expect line items or EN 16931 data.

Create a ZUGFeRD file

Our converter creates hybrid ZUGFeRD/Factur-X invoices in the EN 16931 or EXTENDED profile from your PDF.

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