The Format Jungle: ZUGFeRD and XRechnung
Anyone dealing with the 2025 e-invoicing mandate immediately stumbles across two terms: ZUGFeRD and XRechnung. Both formats fulfill the legal requirements of EN 16931. But for the daily practice of craftsmen, freelancers, and small agencies, there is a huge difference.
What is the XRechnung?
The XRechnung is a pure XML data format. If you open this file on your computer, you only see lines full of programming code. There is no visual layout, no logo, and no nice table. The XRechnung is exclusively intended for machines and is primarily strictly required for invoices to public authorities (B2G).
What is ZUGFeRD?
ZUGFeRD (Central User Guide of the Forum Electronic Invoice Germany) is a hybrid format. It combines a visible PDF/A-3 document with an embedded XML file. That means: You send a single file. Your client can click and read it as usual, while their accounting system reads the invisible XML file.
Why ZUGFeRD wins for small businesses
For almost all B2B transactions, ZUGFeRD is the better choice. It preserves the familiar invoice layout (your logo, your CI) while simultaneously fulfilling the legal obligation. In case of discrepancies, the invoice can simply be checked by a human. With the pure XRechnung, you need special viewer software just to see what you actually billed.
How to write ZUGFeRD invoices immediately
You don't need to be an IT expert to create hybrid ZUGFeRD invoices. With eRechnungFix.de, you can fill out a form, and the system generates the perfect PDF with the matching, flawless XML embedding in the background. Everything runs in the browser, fast and secure.