Validate an e-invoice and find its errors
Drop an XRechnung (XML) or a ZUGFeRD or Factur-X invoice (PDF) and get a readable validation report straight away, with every finding, its rule and the business term it concerns — free, without an account and 100% locally in your browser.
Free, without an account and 100% local in your browser.
100% local in your browser
Your invoice files are never transmitted to Billance. Validation and preview run entirely in your browser.
Checked against official specifications
Validation runs against the official XML schemas and the pinned rule packages for EN 16931, XRechnung 3.0.2 and Peppol BIS 3.0.21.
Free and unlimited
No sign-up, no daily limit and no subscription – for as many invoices as you like.
Billance for Desktop & Mobile
Create and validate e-invoices (XRechnung & ZUGFeRD) and capture receipts directly on Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS & Android.
Try it with an example invoice
Load an official example directly into the tool: an XRechnung as XML or a ZUGFeRD / Factur-X PDF with embedded invoice XML. Processing takes place locally in your browser.
XRechnung · UBL
Source: KoSITZUGFeRD / Factur-X · EN 16931
Source: FeRD
Sample data, not a request for payment. The PDF is the official rental invoice example from ZUGFeRD 2.3.3, provided unchanged via the ZUGFeRD-csharp archive.
Check e-invoices online – no upload, no account
The Billance e-invoice validator checks electronic invoices directly in your browser. Drop an XRechnung as an XML file or a ZUGFeRD or Factur-X invoice as a hybrid PDF and you get a readable validation report: XML schema, the European core rules of EN 16931, national XRechnung rules, calculation arithmetic and code lists.
Because the whole check runs locally, your invoice data never leaves your device – neither the file, nor its name, nor the findings are transmitted. To work out which format fits you, see the comparison of ZUGFeRD and XRechnung; deadlines and obligations are covered in the e-invoicing basics and under the e-invoicing mandate.
- 01
Drop your files
Drag one or more XRechnung XML or ZUGFeRD PDF files into the field – or pick them from the file dialog.
- 02
Let it check locally
Your browser runs the versioned validation plan and works through the files one after another. No invoice data is transmitted.
- 03
Read the report & save the XML
Open a result, jump from any finding straight into the invoice data or the XML source, and save the report and the embedded XML locally.
What the validator reads out of your invoice
Unreadable XML becomes a clean invoice view — and every finding jumps to the matching place in the source.
An XRechnung consists of several thousand lines of XML with elements such as “ram:SpecifiedLineTradeAgreement” or “cbc:PayableAmount”. Billance reads the semantic data tree and shows seller, buyer, line items, tax rates, totals and payment terms as a clear invoice – including a jump from every field to the matching position in the XML source.
In ZUGFeRD and Factur-X invoices the structured XML sits inside the PDF as an attachment. The extractor finds that attachment, validates it and offers it for download: that way you can extract the embedded XML from a PDF e-invoice without uploading the file anywhere. If a PDF contains several invoice attachments, you pick the right one yourself.
Only need the XML file? The XML extractor pulls it out of one or many PDF invoices, and the readable invoice view lives in the e-invoice viewer.
| Area | Fields (BT) | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice header | BT-1, BT-2, BT-3, BT-5 | Invoice number, date, type and currency |
| Seller | BT-27, BT-31, BT-35 | Name, address, VAT ID and contact |
| Buyer | BT-44, BT-48, BT-10 | Name, address, VAT ID and buyer reference |
| Invoice lines | BG-25 | Description, quantity, unit, prices and amounts |
| Tax breakdown | BG-23 | Taxable amounts, rates and tax amounts |
| Totals and payment | BT-106, BT-112, BT-84 | Net total, gross amount, due date and bank details |
What the e-invoice validator checks
Structure, business rules and calculation arithmetic against current European and German specifications.
XML schema & well-formedness (XSD)
Validation of the XML structure against the official W3C XML schemas for OASIS UBL 2.1 (Invoice & CreditNote) and UN/CEFACT CII D16B.
EN 16931 – European core rules
Verification of the European core rules (CEN/EN 16931), mandatory fields, tax categories and semantic field relationships.
XRechnung 3.0 & national rules
Validation against XRechnung 3.0.2 (KoSIT reference release) including the buyer reference (BT-10 / Leitweg-ID) and B2G specifications.
ZUGFeRD & Factur-X inside the PDF container
Inspection of ZUGFeRD and Factur-X PDFs, detection of embedded XML invoice files and validation of the detected XML profile.
Calculation arithmetic & rounding
Exact verification of all calculations: line net amounts, discounts, charges, tax amounts and rounding.
UN/ISO code lists
Validation against the official code lists for currencies, countries, units, payment means and tax exemptions.
Common e-invoice validation errors
These findings most frequently cause rejections when submitting invoices to public authorities or business partners.
| Rule / Error Code | Meaning | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| BR-DE-15 / BT-10 | The buyer reference (BT-10) is missing in the XRechnung check plan. | Enter the buyer reference required by the recipient; for public authorities, this may be a routing ID.BT-10: Buyer Reference / Leitweg-ID |
| BR-CO-10 / BR-CO-15 | The line total or gross amount does not match the corresponding totals. | Check line amounts, net totals and tax amounts against the reported rule.BT-106: Sum of Invoice Line Net AmountsBT-112: Invoice Total Amount With VAT (Gross) |
| BR-S-05 / BT-152 | A standard-rated line (S) does not have a positive tax rate. | Select the proper exemption reason or correct tax category (E = Exempt, Z = Zero rated).BT-152: Invoiced Item VAT Rate |
| BILLANCE-PDF-XML-MISSING | No readable invoice XML attachment was found in the PDF. An ordinary PDF invoice is not sufficient. | Request structured XML or a suitable hybrid invoice from the issuer.Converting an ordinary PDF: workflow and limits |
| BR-DE-4 / BR-DE-9 | The seller or buyer postal code is missing in the XRechnung check plan. | Ensure complete postal address information in your company profile and customer records. |
More than checking: create, receive and book e-invoices
The validator is the free entry point. With the Billance app, you can also create e-invoices, read received invoices and keep them as receipts or expenses. The desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux offers local invoice validation and conversion of existing PDF invoices. Invoice validation processes your files locally; other features may require an internet connection.
- Create & send e-invoicesProduce standards-compliant XRechnung and ZUGFeRD documents, design them in your own layout and send them directly – including buyer reference and Leitweg-ID for public authorities.
- Keep received e-invoices as receipts and expensesRead incoming invoices and receipts, take over amounts, input tax and categories, and document the expense cleanly – locally on your device.
- Validation inside the applicationThe desktop app adds a validation history to local invoice checks. Validation is free; report exports are available with Premium.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Find answers to the most common questions regarding e-invoice validation, data extraction, and privacy.
Ready for effortless e-invoicing?
Create, check and manage invoices with Billance — for businesses, freelancers and private individuals.