XRechnung
XRechnung is the German core invoice usage specification (CIUS) of the European e-invoicing standard EN 16931. KoSIT publishes its business rules as Schematron for both the UBL and UN/CEFACT CII syntaxes. XRechnung adds national rules to EN 16931, for example a required buyer reference and seller contact details. Version 3.0 files carry their own specification identifier.
Why this matters when you invoice
XRechnung adds German business rules on top of EN 16931. A file can follow EN 16931 and still not meet XRechnung, for example when the buyer reference (BT-10), payment instructions or seller contact details are missing, or when early-payment discount lines do not use the #SKONTO# format.
Versions
The rules reviewed here are XRechnung 3.0 (Schematron 2.6.0). KoSIT has announced XRechnung 4.0, based on the 2026 revision of EN 16931; no 4.0 rules or dates were published in the reviewed sources. This page does not say who must use XRechnung or from when.
Create an XRechnung file, then validate it separately
A supplier’s client asks for XRechnung. In the InvoiceCraftly editor, the XML export offers XRechnung (UBL) and asks for the buyer reference the client gave, such as a Leitweg-ID, a contact person and both e-invoice addresses. The file is checked with InvoiceCraftly’s built-in rules; the official KoSIT validator is a separate step.
Common mistakes
- Sending an EN 16931 file without the XRechnung specification identifier and German rules.
- Leaving out the buyer reference (BT-10), which XRechnung requires.
- Writing early-payment discount terms as free text that starts with # instead of the #SKONTO# line format.
Open and check an XRechnung file
Open an XRechnung 3.0 UBL file to read the invoice details and see the result of InvoiceCraftly’s XRechnung checks.
InvoiceCraftly checks XRechnung files with its own built-in rules; it does not run the official KoSIT validator, decide German invoicing obligations, or send invoices.
Official references
Sources and terminology reviewed 10 October 2026. Next evidence review: 9 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is XRechnung the same as EN 16931?
No. XRechnung is a core invoice usage specification of EN 16931. It keeps the European model and adds German business rules, so an EN 16931 file does not automatically meet XRechnung.
Which syntaxes can XRechnung use?
UBL and UN/CEFACT CII. KoSIT publishes the rules for both. InvoiceCraftly creates and reads the UBL form.
Does InvoiceCraftly validate XRechnung officially?
No. InvoiceCraftly checks XRechnung files with its own built-in rules, which are tested against KoSIT’s published Schematron. The official KoSIT validator does not run in your browser.