E-invoicing · Guide
PDF vs structured E-Rechnung
A PDF invoice is designed for people. A structured e-invoice is designed for software. The two can look similar on screen, but they satisfy different requirements.
What a PDF gives you
A PDF is a printable, human-readable document. It can show the seller, customer, line items, VAT and totals. InvoiceFlow’s PDF workflow stores an immutable seller snapshot, invoice items, tax summary and a SHA-256 hash of the generated document.
What structured invoicing adds
Structured formats carry invoice data in a machine-readable form and must be generated and validated against a defined technical standard. In Europe, EN 16931 provides a semantic framework; national formats and profiles add their own technical rules. XRechnung and ZUGFeRD are not interchangeable labels for any PDF.
Questions to ask a vendor
- Which exact format and version is generated?
- Which profile is used, and for which transaction types?
- Is the output validated against official schemas and business rules?
- Can the validation result be demonstrated?
- Does the vendor label a PDF as an e-invoice without embedded structured data?
InvoiceFlow currently supports PDF invoices. XRechnung and ZUGFeRD are not implemented or claimed as compliant. Tax and legal requirements should be reviewed with a qualified adviser.