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ZUGFeRD and Factur-X Compliance

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This manual explains what ZUGFeRD and Factur-X are, how they relate to each other, and the scope of Docentric AX compliance with these standards.

ZUGFeRD Standard

ZUGFeRD (Zentraler User Guide des Forums elektronische Rechnung Deutschland) is a German hybrid e-invoicing standard.

Key characteristics:

  • It combines a human-readable invoice with structured data in a single document.
  • The PDF file contains an embedded machine-readable XML invoice (UN/CEFACT CII format).
  • The structured invoice data follows the EN 16931 European semantic standard for electronic invoices.

The standard is maintained by FeRD (Forum elektronische Rechnung Deutschland) and is used for both B2B and B2G (Business-to-Business/Government) transactions in Germany.

Factur-X Standard

Factur-X is the French implementation of the same hybrid invoice concept. It is supported by the French public sector and Chorus Pro, the official French government platform for managing and processing electronic invoices in the public sector and, increasingly, in B2B.

Factur‑X 1.0 (used in France) and ZUGFeRD 2.1 (used in Germany) are technically identical. They use the same schema, profiles, metadata, and XML validation rules.

👉 Learn more about ZUGFeRD and Factur-X >> (link coming soon...)

Compliance Scope in Docentric AX

From Docentric AX v3.5.1, the ZUGFeRD 2.1 / Factur-X 1.0 and their higher versions are supported.

This allows you to comply with both German and French requirements using the same technical foundation.

👉 Learn how to configure ZUGFeRD Invoices with Docentric >>

ZUGFeRD and Factur-X compliance applies not only to PDF reports generated by the Docentric Document Generator, but also to those produced by SSRS Reporting Services when printed via Docentric print destinations.
ZUGFeRD and Factur-X compliance is a part of Docentric AX Full Edition.

Hybrid Invoice Model

A hybrid invoice combines two things in one single file:

  • A standard PDF invoice.
  • A structured XML file embedded inside the PDF.

The PDF part is for humans. The XML part is for systems.

The file format used is PDF/A-3, which allows for attaching structured data inside the PDF. That embedded XML follows the EN 16931 semantic model and contains all invoice data in a machine-readable format.

So instead of sending different files, a PDF for viewing and a separate XML for processing, you send one compliant document that serves both purposes.

This approach improves interoperability, reduces errors, and ensures that the invoice can be automatically validated and processed by accounting or government systems.

See Also

Send ZUGFeRD Invoices by Email from D365FO >> (link coming soon...)
Enable ZUGFeRD e-Invoicing in D365FO >> (link coming soon...)

ZUGFeRD Invoices: PDF/A‑3, CII XML, and XMP Metadata for e‑Invoice Compliance >>
Configure Report Attachments >>
Configure Attachment Generating Rules >>

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