ZUGFeRD, XRechnung, Factur-X, ebInterface: the e-invoice formats explained
There is a whole range of formats for e-invoices. What sets them apart, what connects them, and when each is used — a structured overview.
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The future of invoicing is structured.
From paper to PDF to machine-readable data per EN 16931 — the e-invoice is the next step. milchrechnung gets your invoices there: analyze, validate, view, convert and create, right in the browser.
Does this affect me?
When does the mandate apply?
Germany is rolling out the mandate in stages — three deadlines determine when it applies to you.
1 Jan 2025
Since 2025: receiving
Every business must be able to receive e-invoices. This is already in effect.
1 Jan 2027
From 2027: issuing
Businesses with more than €800,000 in annual revenue must issue e-invoices.
1 Jan 2028
From 2028
The issuing obligation then applies to all B2B businesses.
Austria has no B2B mandate. Companies invoicing federal authorities have been doing it electronically since 2014 — via ebInterface or PEPPOL.
Many formats — the right tool for each.
Analyze
Detects the format and validates required fields and totals against EN 16931 — for Factur-X, ZUGFeRD, PEPPOL BIS 3.0, ebInterface and XRechnung.
Validate
Checks your invoice against the official rule sets — the same validation used in professional settings. You'll see whether it's fully compliant.
View
Shows you the invoice in plain language, from invoice number to IBAN. No need to read XML.
Create
Enter your invoice data and get back an EN-16931-compliant invoice — as Factur-X, ZUGFeRD, PEPPOL BIS 3.0, ebInterface or XRechnung.
The key formats
milchrechnung works with the formats used in Germany and Austria: Factur-X and ZUGFeRD, XRechnung, PEPPOL BIS 3.0 and ebInterface. All are built on EN 16931 — the shared European model.
Factur-X ZUGFeRD XRechnung PEPPOL BIS 3.0 ebInterface
All formats at a glance → What sets milchrechnung apart
Free
milchrechnung is free — no subscription, no paywall, and that's not going to change.
No data storage
Your invoice never leaves your browser. milchrechnung processes everything locally on your device — nothing is sent to a server.
No sign-up
No account, no email. Drop in a file and go.
EN 16931-compliant
milchrechnung validates against EN 16931, the European e-invoicing standard. The core library is open source on GitHub.
Latest
All posts →E-invoicing obligations in Germany and Austria: what applies when
Germany is phasing in mandatory B2B e-invoicing, while Austria so far requires it only towards the federal government. An overview of deadlines, exemptions, and the EU outlook.
ebInterface 7.0 in preparation: tighter EN 16931 alignment for Austria's e-invoice standard
AUSTRIAPRO is planning to release ebInterface 7.0 in Q4 2026 — with a formal syntax binding to the European standard EN 16931. What this means for B2G senders in Austria.
Give it a try.
Upload an invoice or create a new one.