Understanding the mandate: what’s required and when
Germany’s e-invoicing requirements are being rolled out in stages, as part of wider EU reforms and the Growth and Opportunities Act. While the initial requirement to receive structured e-invoices came into effect in January 2025, the next two milestones will directly impact how businesses issue invoices:
- From 1 January 2027
Businesses with an annual turnover exceeding €800,000 will be required to issue structured e-invoices. PDFs and paper formats will no longer be valid unless exceptions apply. - From 1 January 2028
The obligation extends to all German-established companies. At this point, structured electronic invoices become the default format for B2B transactions.
Unstructured formats (such as emailed PDFs) will no longer be recognised as valid e-invoices and cannot be used to claim VAT deductions.
What counts as a valid e-invoice?
Invoices must follow the European standard EN 16931 and be issued in a machine-readable, structured format. Acceptable formats include:
- XRechnung (Germany’s national standard)
- ZUGFeRD (Version 2.0.1 or higher – includes PDF with embedded XML)
- UBL and other approved syntaxes aligned with Directive 2014/55/EU
How Lasernet supports Your e-invoicing compliance
Lasernet by Formpipe makes it easy to generate, transform and distribute structured e-invoices – directly from your ERP or financial systems.
Create compliant formats
- Generate XRechnung, ZUGFeRD, PEPPOL BIS and other EN 16931 formats
- Drag-and-drop XML mapping in Lasernet Developer
- Embed structured XML data into PDF files for hybrid formats like ZUGFeRD
- Flexible configuration for Dynamics 365, SAP, Infor and more
Distribute with flexibility
- Deliver e-invoices via PEPPOL, email, web service, FTP, HTTP(S), and more
- Integrate seamlessly into your document output workflows
- Automate delivery to tax portals, business partners or archiving systems
Lasernet for Microsoft Dynamics 365
Lasernet provides powerful e-invoicing capabilities tailored for Microsoft Dynamics 365, with distinct approaches for Finance & Operations (F&O) and Business Central (BC).
For Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (F&O)
Invoice formats such as XRechnung, ZUGFeRD, and PEPPOL BIS are created directly within Lasernet Developer. Users have full control over the mapping, structure, and logic of their e-invoice templates, as shown in our video tutorials.
For Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC)
Lasernet gives Business Central users the flexibility to create compliant e-invoice formats such as XRechnung and ZUGFeRD using powerful tools within the platform. You have full control to tailor and update them as needed – either in-house or with consultancy support. Given that e-invoicing standards can evolve frequently, Lasernet ensures you're equipped to adapt quickly and stay compliant in a dynamic regulatory landscape.
