XRechnung, ZUGFeRD or Peppol: Which format and channel do you choose for Germany?
First, the format.
All permitted formats comply with EN 16931, but they differ significantly in practice:
is a pure XML file. Not human-readable, but built for machines. It has been mandatory for invoices to the government since 2020 and travels over the Peppol network by default.
is a hybrid: an ordinary PDF with the structured XML invisibly embedded. Your recipient sees a normal invoice, the software can read the hiddendata. Popular precisely because no one has to give up their familiar invoice layout.
is also pure XML, and at the same time the de facto standard for cross-border exchange within the EU.
Then, the channel.
Because Germany imposes no network, you have to agree with each trading partner how you exchange:
works via a four-corner model (sender → sending access point → receiving access point → receiver). You need a certified access point; a direct connection is not possible. Peppol transports both XRechnung and Peppol BIS. Its real strength is cross-border: once you’re connected, the same setup works for customers outside Germany too.
is legally sufficient and the most common route for ZUGFeRD. Any EN 16931 format is valid by email. Downside: no proof of delivery, no validation, no protection against invoice fraud. If you’re going the email route, ZUGFeRD is the better fit: the PDF still looks like an invoice but an XML file as attachment makes and AP clerk’s day worse.
usually exist only with large trading partners and neither is quick to onboard or cheap to keep running. Worth it if the volume with that one partner justifies it.
The practical recommendation
Two channels cover almost everything: Peppol where possible, email as a fallback. You don’t need to build a heavy EDI or portal setup just to stay compliant.
Where Amista makes the difference: ARconnect
Here’s the catch. You can build the right format per customer and send it through the right channel yourself. It just never stops needing attention. Most people will end up with a spreadsheet they hate. With ARconnect you solve it in one go:
- You upload your sales invoices in structured format and PDF.
- ARconnect transforms them into the required format, XRechnung, ZUGFeRD or Peppol, and delivers them via Peppol or email.
- You get delivery tracking and a digital archive.
- Optionally, we integrate tracking feedback directly with your FIN/ERP system.
That way you don’t have to worry about which customer expects which format or channel: you deliver once, and ARconnect handles the rest. Exactly the same “map once, we take care of the rest” approach with which we keep hundreds of customers and millions of transactions compliant in Belgium.