XRechnung viewer: read and print XRechnung files

How to view an XRechnung

1. 1Drop the XML file onto the field above, or click to choose it from your computer.
2. 2The format is detected automatically, whether the XRechnung uses UBL or CII syntax.
3. 3Read the invoice: parties, lines, VAT breakdown, totals, payment details, buyer reference or Leitweg-ID, notes and attachments.
4. 4Print it or save it as a PDF through the browser’s print dialog. Keep the XML file itself as your record.

Why you suddenly receive XML invoices

Since 1 January 2025, every business in Germany must be able to receive electronic invoices for domestic B2B supplies. That is the effect of the amended § 14 of the German VAT Act (UStG), introduced by the Wachstumschancengesetz. A PDF sent by email no longer counts as an e-invoice: an e-invoice is a structured data set that follows the European standard EN 16931.

Senders still have transition periods. Until the end of 2026 they may continue to send paper or other electronic invoices, and businesses with a prior-year turnover of up to €800,000 may do so until the end of 2027. More and more suppliers are switching early, though, so XRechnung files are already arriving in mailboxes that were set up for PDFs.

What the viewer shows

• Seller and buyer with addresses, VAT IDs and contact details
• Invoice number, dates, service period and currency
• Every invoice line with quantity, unit, price, allowances and VAT category
• The VAT breakdown per rate and category, including exemption reasons
• Totals, with an independent recalculation so that differences become visible
• Payment details: IBAN, BIC, payment reference and payment terms
• Buyer reference or Leitweg-ID, order reference and contract reference
• Free-text notes and the list of embedded attachments

If you also want to know whether the file breaks any rules, use the XRechnung validator. It runs the same official checks that KoSIT publishes.

UBL or CII – it does not matter to you

XRechnung exists in two XML syntaxes: OASIS UBL 2.1 and UN/CEFACT CII D16B. Both carry the same information, defined by EN 16931 and the German specification published by KoSIT. Which one you get depends on the sender’s software. The viewer reads both and shows them in the same layout, so you do not need to know which one is in front of you.

Leitweg-ID and buyer reference

The Leitweg-ID is the routing identifier German public authorities use to direct an invoice to the right office. It is sent in the buyer reference field (BT-10). In B2B invoices the same field is mandatory in XRechnung, but it can contain any reference the buyer asked for, such as a cost centre or purchase order. The viewer places this value near the top, because it is usually the first thing accounts payable needs.

Printing for your accountant – and what to keep

Many accountants and approval workflows still want a page they can read. Use the print button or your browser’s print dialog to produce one, or choose ‘Save as PDF’.

Bear in mind that under German record-keeping rules (GoBD) the XML file is the original invoice. The printout or PDF is only a visual representation of it. Archive the original XML unchanged for the statutory retention period; the printout does not replace it.

Privacy and limits

The invoice is read inside your browser. It is never uploaded, and there is no server-side processing. The only network requests are for this page and the official rule files, which are identical for every visitor. Nothing is stored, closing the tab discards the data, and you do not need an account.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. German Federal Ministry of Finance – BMF letter of 15 October 2025 on mandatory e-invoicing (checked 2026-10-28)
2. § 27 (38) UStG – transitional rules (checked 2026-10-28)
3. KoSIT – XRechnung specification (checked 2026-10-28)