How to open an e-invoice
Quick answer: To open an e-invoice, drop the file, read the invoice, check the result and print or save it.
- Drop the file. An .xml file (XRechnung, UBL, CII) or a PDF with an invoice inside (ZUGFeRD, Factur-X).
- Read the invoice. Seller, buyer, items, VAT breakdown, total and bank details, laid out like a normal invoice.
- Check the result. The viewer recomputes the totals and VAT and checks the main EN 16931 and XRechnung rules. Problems are listed in plain words.
- Print or save it. Press Print to keep a readable copy, or print to PDF.
Why can't I open my XRechnung?
An XRechnung is an XML file for software, not a document. Since 2025 German businesses must accept e-invoices, so many receive files they can't read without accounting software. The viewer shows them as a normal invoice.
What the check covers
The totals, each VAT rate and amount, and the main mandatory fields of EN 16931 and XRechnung, such as the buyer reference, seller contact and payment details. The official validators also test every code list and a few hundred more rules, so a file with no problems here can still fail there in rare cases.
Receiving e-invoices in Germany and France
German businesses must be able to receive e-invoices since 1 January 2025 (§ 14 UStG). In France every business must be able to receive them through a plateforme agréée from 1 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which formats can I open?
XRechnung in UBL or CII syntax, ZUGFeRD 2 and Factur-X PDFs and XML (any profile), and Peppol BIS Billing UBL invoices and credit notes.
Is the file uploaded?
No. It's read in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere.
My PDF says it has no e-invoice data inside.
Then it's a normal PDF invoice: open it in any PDF reader. ZUGFeRD and Factur-X PDFs carry an attached XML file, which is what the viewer reads.
Is it free?
Yes, with no limit.