What Is Factur-X / ZUGFeRD – And Why Should You Care?
Factur-X is a hybrid e-invoicing standard developed jointly by France and Germany and adopted as EN 16931, the European norm for electronic invoicing in B2G (Business-to-Government) and B2B (Business-to-Business) contexts.
A Factur-X invoice consists of two synchronized components:
- A PDF that is human-readable
- An embedded XML file that contains structured, machine-readable invoice data
In Germany, the Factur-X standard is known as ZUGFeRD (Zentraler User Guide des Forums elektronische Rechnung Deutschland). Functionally, both are identical and interoperable.
Why it matters
Factur-X/ZUGFeRD enables companies to combine the benefits of traditional PDF invoices (for human users) with the efficiency of automated invoice processing (for software systems).
It’s especially relevant for any business working with European public administrations or companies aiming to streamline their invoicing processes.
List & Label 31: Now with Native Factur-X / ZUGFeRD Support
With version 31, List & Label introduces out-of-the-box support for ZUGFeRD/Factur-X 2.3 in its PDF export.
This means:
Developers can now create fully compliant PDF/A-3 invoices with embedded XML directly – no extra tools or post-processing needed.
✔️ Key Benefits
- Native PDF export with embedded ZUGFeRD/Factur-X XML
- Support for all common profiles: BASIC, EN 16931, EXTENDED, and XRECHNUNG
- Full XML embedding according to standard
- Automatic structural validation by List & Label
- Seamless compatibility with XRechnung, the mandatory format for public sector invoices in Germany
How It Works: A Simple Example
Generating a compliant Factur-X/ZUGFeRD invoice is straightforward:
Example C# code
/ create export configuration
ExportConfiguration exportConfiguration = new ExportConfiguration(LlExportTarget.Pdf, "Export.pdf", "invoice.lst");
// define option for XML filename and its path
LL.ExportOptions.Add(LlExportOption.PdfZUGFeRDXmlPath, @"c:\Invoices\invoice_123456.xml");
// start export
LL.Export(exportConfiguration);
The XML file itself still needs to be created or provided – typically by your ERP or accounting system. List & Label takes care of:
- Embedding the file correctly
- Ensuring PDF/A-3 compliance
- Producing a fully machine-readable and legally valid invoice
Ideal for Testing and Rollout
Full support for ZUGFeRD/Factur-X makes List & Label an ideal choice for companies across Europe that need to generate automatically processable, legally compliant invoices – whether for private customers or government entities.
Daniel has undergone training as a software developer at combit, where he currently leads the Customer Support department as a manager. His responsibilities extend beyond software development to include technical collaborations with business partners. He conducts workshops for developers and serves as a technical advisor to the sales and service team. Outside of work, Daniel is an avid cyclist, frequently seen navigating the trails around Lake Constance and the neighboring Alps on his mountain or road bike. Additionally, he dedicates time to practicing Chinese martial arts, including Wushu Kungfu and Taichi.
