Overview
To be compliant with new German e-invoicing regulations, Younium can send invoices in the Zugferd format. Zugferd is a hybrid PDF file format, which means that it consists of a visual PDF file with embedded XML data in a specified format. Read more on the Zugferd standard at https://www.ferd-net.de/en/standards/zugferd/factur-x
How it works
When Zugferd invoice format is enabled, all PDF invoices will be created and stored as Zugferd PDF's. For an end-customer this will not mean anything unless they import the PDF in a Zugferd compatible system and has access to the embedded XML data. For end-customers using the traditional visible PDF file there will be no difference. However since Zugferd is a regulated structured file format it has certain requirements on data, it can mean that when you are creating an invoice you may get validation error messages in Younium that required data is missing and this needs to be added before posting the invoice. More on this in the "Required data" section.
When posting an invoice, Younium created the PDF according to the existing template but also injects the Zugferd XML file into the PDF before sending it further to email and saving the file on the invoice record in Younium.
How to enable Zugferd invoice format
Zugferd is enabled by browsing to Settings > Invoices > Invoice settings and checking the checkbox on "Attach Zugferd XML to invoice". There is no other configuration needed, from now all PDF invoices will have the Zugferd XML injected.
Required data
To create the invoice compliant with the Zugferd format specification, certain data is required. This is a summary of this, if the fields are not valid there may be an error message visible when posting the invoice in Younium
- Address on Legal entity, including Country, must be set
- Legal entity Tax registration number must be set
- Account Tax registration number must be set when tax category is standard tax (Not EU or Export)
- Invoice line ProductName must have value => you cannot have empty Product name
- Invoice line ChargeDescription must have value => you cannot have empty description/name on Charge