What is an XRechnung?
An XRechnung is Germany's standard for a structured electronic invoice. Unlike a PDF, it is a machine-readable XML file that follows the European EN 16931 semantic model, so the receiving system can read every field — invoice number, tax rates, line items, payment terms — without a human retyping anything.
It was created for invoicing German public authorities, which have been required to accept it since 2020. The same format is now central to Germany's wider B2B e-invoicing rollout, because it is one of the two EN 16931-compliant formats (alongside ZUGFeRD) that qualify as a genuine e-invoice under the new rules.
When do you need an XRechnung?
You need an XRechnung whenever your customer requires a structured e-invoice rather than a PDF. That is the case in two situations in particular:
- Invoicing a German public authority (Bund, Länder or municipal bodies) — an XRechnung has been mandatory here for several years.
- B2B invoicing in Germany under the e-invoicing mandate — since 1 January 2025 all domestic businesses must be able to receive EN 16931 e-invoices; issuing them becomes mandatory from 1 January 2027 for firms with prior-year turnover above €800,000, and from 1 January 2028 for everyone else.
The Leitweg-ID and other required fields
When you invoice a public authority, the single most important field is the Leitweg-ID — the routing identifier that tells the government platform which office the invoice belongs to. The authority provides this ID; you must copy it exactly.
Beyond that, an XRechnung needs the same core data as any compliant invoice: both parties' names and addresses, your tax number or VAT ID, a unique sequential invoice number, the invoice and delivery dates, a clear breakdown of net amounts, tax rate and tax amount, and your payment details (IBAN and terms).
How to create an XRechnung with this tool
You do not need accounting software or a paid portal. With this generator you fill in a normal invoice form and download the structured XML:
- Enter your details and your customer's (name, address, tax number or VAT ID).
- Add the routing information — the Leitweg-ID for authorities, or the buyer reference for B2B.
- Add your line items with quantities, net prices and the correct VAT rate.
- Set the invoice number, invoice date and delivery date or period.
- Download the XRechnung XML — and, if you like, a matching PDF for your records.
Validate before you send
Because an XRechnung is checked automatically by the recipient's system, a single malformed field can bounce the whole invoice. It is worth validating the XML before you send it, especially the first few times.
The generated file conforms to EN 16931 and the XRechnung specification, but you can confirm any XML independently with a free conformance checker before submitting it to an authority or customer.
Everything stays in your browser
Plenty of XRechnung services make you sign up first, or they run your invoice through their own servers — occasionally taking a PDF upload just to convert it. Here none of that happens. Your browser builds the EN 16931 XML with JavaScript on the spot, so the invoice figures and the Leitweg-ID you type are never sent anywhere, saved or logged.
This is worth caring about because an XRechnung is packed with sensitive detail — the buyer's name, the sums you invoiced, your IBAN and payment terms. Generating everything locally keeps those fields on your own machine, and the page never acts as a relay carrying your XML onward to a government platform.
Frequently asked questions
Is this XRechnung generator really free?
Yes. Building and downloading an XRechnung costs nothing — no account, no watermark, and no cap on how many you make. Ads keep the site running; the XML generator behind them is entirely free to use.
Is the generated XRechnung valid?
The output conforms to EN 16931 and the XRechnung specification. Because the correctness of a specific invoice also depends on the data you enter (for example a valid Leitweg-ID), we recommend validating the XML with the EU's free conformance service before sending it to an authority for the first time.
What is a Leitweg-ID and where do I get it?
The Leitweg-ID is the routing identifier that tells a public authority's platform which office an invoice belongs to. The authority you are invoicing provides it — you cannot invent one. Copy it exactly as given; a wrong Leitweg-ID is a common rejection reason.
Do I need an XRechnung for business (B2B) invoices?
Since 1 January 2025 every German business must be able to receive EN 16931 e-invoices such as an XRechnung. The obligation to issue them phases in from 2027 (turnover over €800,000) and 2028 (all others). Whether a particular B2B customer wants an XRechnung specifically, or ZUGFeRD, is something to confirm with them.
What is the difference between XRechnung and a PDF?
A PDF is a picture of an invoice meant for a human to read. An XRechnung is structured XML meant for a computer to process automatically. Since 2025 a plain PDF no longer counts as an e-invoice under the German rules — a structured format like XRechnung or ZUGFeRD does.
Is my invoice data uploaded anywhere?
No. Your browser assembles the XRechnung XML on your own device, so none of the invoice fields travel to us. The tool submits nothing to a portal or authority on your behalf — you save the file and send it however you like.