Reference

ZUGFeRD EXTENDED profile

The EXTENDED profile provides additional data elements for sector-specific or advanced processes beyond the core EN 16931 model.

Profile overview

ZUGFeRD EXTENDED is the profile to study when the standard EN 16931 payload is not enough and your partner agreement, industry process, or internal workflow needs additional business context.

Recommended for

Organizations with advanced integration requirements
Sector-specific data needs (where supported by recipients)

What it typically includes

Extra reference data and additional business information
More granular line-level and tax details (where applicable)
Extensions that some systems can process

Limitations

Not every recipient supports EXTENDED fields
May reduce interoperability if recipients expect strict EN 16931

Legal status in Germany and France

Germany: a hybrid invoice in the EXTENDED profile counts as an e-invoice under § 14 UStG, because its XML carries EN 16931 invoice data. The XML part prevails if it differs from the PDF.
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

Sector projects with agreed extensions
Complex enterprise invoice integrations where both parties align on the data set

Specification references

GuidelineID: urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#conformant#urn:factur-x.eu:1p0:extended
PDF/A-3 conformance: PDF/A-3 (ISO 19005-3:2012)
Embedded XML filename: factur-x.xml
AFRelationship attribute: Alternative (DE) · Data / Source / Alternative (FR)
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 EXTENDED only when a recipient or sector specifically asks for fields beyond EN 16931.
Use EN 16931 by default if you want stronger interoperability and fewer partner-specific variations.
Keep EXTENDED out of generic invoice exchange unless the receiving process has been agreed in advance.

Use the EXTENDED 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

When should I choose EXTENDED instead of EN 16931?

Choose EXTENDED when a specific partner, sector, or internal process explicitly needs extra business fields that are not part of the core EN 16931 model.

Is EXTENDED a better default for every invoice?

No. It increases specificity, but that can reduce interoperability. For most invoice exchange scenarios, EN 16931 is the safer default.

Can EXTENDED cause validation or exchange issues?

Yes, if the receiving system does not support the extra fields or expects a stricter EN 16931 payload. Always confirm the target process first.

Create a ZUGFeRD file

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

Convert to ZUGFeRD