ZUGFeRD is an e-invoice format originating from Germany. It is a hybrid format that combines a human-readable PDF/A-3 file with embedded XML data, allowing both structured data and a visual representation of the invoice to be presented in a single document. Factur-X is a hybrid e-invoice format used primarily in Germany for cross-border exchanges with France.
Both requirements are based on the same data structure. Therefore, Perk can process both ZUGFeRD, and Factur-X e-invoices.
Caution: Perk supports the standard version of ZUGFeRD 2.2 and 2.3 and Factur-X 1.x versions. It does not support ZUGFeRD 1.x or any custom fields that a supplier may include in these formats.
To process these e-invoices in Perk, you can either:
- send them via email to the invoice mailbox, whether directly to the Perk invoice inbox or via email alias.
- upload them directly in the web app.
Note: The e-invoice must be a valid format. Perk does not currently validate the structure against the schema or specific requirement. Any invalid e-invoice files will be ignored or processed as a standard PDF file.
Uploading an ZUGFeRD e-invoice
ZUGFeRD and Factur-X e-invoices consist of a PDF document with an embedded XML. The XML data must be expressed using the CII schema. Perk can read and interpret the data from this schema.
When a ZUGFeRD or Factur-X e-invoice is received in the invoice inbox or uploaded via the web app, Perk checks whether the PDF attachment contains any embedded files and whether the name of the embedded XML file matches one of these file names:
- factur-x.xml
- xrechnung.xml
- zugerd-invoice.xml
Otherwise, it considers it to be a standard PDF invoice and performs AI extraction from the PDF (if readable). In the case of e-invoices send via the invoice inbox, if the PDF is not readable, it tries to create an invoice from the email body.
If Perk determines that the embedded XML file is valid for ZUGFeRD e-invoices, it checks the XML data to verify whether the schema is CII. It then uses the data specified in the XML file to create the e-invoice in Perk. The hybrid PDF containing the embedded XML is displayed in Perk as the invoice preview.
In the Documents tab, you can view the original PDF file, displayed with the Source document label. If the XML data also contains any embedded files, these attachments are also extracted and uploaded as supporting documents. You can download the Source document, but you can’t remove it from the invoice.
All imported ZUGFeRD e-invoices are displayed in the Invoice inbox with the status New. ZUGFeRD e-invoices can then be processed in Perk in the same way as standard invoices, checking invoice requirements for key data such as tax IDs, addresses, etc.