E-Invoice Check

The German e-invoicing mandate is one of those laws where the confusion is bigger than the requirement. "E-invoice" sounds like "invoice by email" but is something entirely different: structured XML data following the European standard EN 16931, which accounting software can book automatically. A PDF is not an e-invoice - not even with a stamp, a signature and the best of intentions.

The E-Rechnung-Check has two modes. The file check: you upload an invoice (XML or PDF, 5 MB max) and the tool tells you what you have - an XRechnung in UBL or CII syntax, a ZUGFeRD PDF with embedded XML, or just a pretty PDF with no machine readability. Behind it runs the same parser that powers the e-invoice inbox of the Rechnungssystem on werkzeu.ge: it reads CII and UBL, extracts the XML from PDF/A-3 files and checks structure, arithmetic and profile against EN 16931.

The readiness check: five questions - receiving, issuing, turnover threshold, small-business status, accounting - and you get an honest assessment instead of a sales brochure. If you only need to be able to receive, we tell you exactly that. If you must issue from 2027, you get the date and a concrete path there. The questions are evaluated entirely in your browser; nothing leaves your device.

The timeline, because it gets scrambled constantly: since 01/01/2025 the receiving mandate applies to all B2B businesses, with no turnover threshold. From 01/01/2027 businesses with more than 800,000 euros previous-year turnover must issue e-invoices, from 01/01/2028 everyone. Small businesses under § 19 UStG are permanently exempt from issuing - but must still be able to receive. Paper and PDF only work during the transition with the recipient's consent, and B2C is not affected by any of this.

A word on honesty, because it matters to us: the file check is a plausibility check - structure, arithmetic, profile detection. It is not an official KOSIT validation with Schematron rules and XSD schema. For most cases that is plenty to know where you stand. If you need legally watertight certainty, for example for a public authority, additionally use the KOSIT validator. We would rather tell you that up front than in the fine print.

And if the check says you need to act? For issuing, the path leads to the Rechnungssystem on werkzeu.ge: it produces XRechnung and ZUGFeRD out of the box, GoBD-compliant, with numbering ranges, dunning and DATEV export for your tax advisor. The Rechnungssystem is part of the Plus plan (16.99 euros per month or 169.90 euros per year, VAT included). Founder pricing runs in tiers until November 30, 2026 - the earlier you join, the cheaper, and your entry price stays as long as your subscription runs. The check itself stays free, for everyone, forever.