XRechnung vs Peppol BIS: format and transmission
XRechnung is the German invoice format, Peppol BIS Billing the invoice format of the Peppol network. Both are based on EN 16931; the Peppol network itself is a transmission channel that can also carry XRechnung invoices.
| XRechnung | German standard based on EN 16931, UBL or CII syntax |
|---|---|
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 | Standard of the Peppol network based on EN 16931, UBL only; version 3.0.21 mandatory since Aug 17, 2026 |
| XRechnung in the Peppol network | permitted, as a separate document type |
The differences
| Feature | XRechnung | Peppol BIS Billing |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | invoice format | invoice format for the Peppol network |
| Rules added to EN 16931 | German rules (BR-DE-*) | Peppol rules (PEPPOL-EN16931-*) |
| Transmission | your choice: email, portal or Peppol | via Peppol Access Points |
Which format fits
Both formats may also be used between businesses in Germany. Since XRechnung 3.0, their content is largely aligned. To send invoices over Peppol, you need an Access Point, whichever of the two formats you use.
Check the format
invowerk checks both formats; your Access Point handles the transmission. An XRechnung is checked by the KoSIT validator, the validation program of the Coordination Office for IT Standards (KoSIT). invowerk checks a Peppol invoice against the rules of Peppol BIS Billing.