On November 15, 2024, an essential milestone in the evolution of e-invoicing standards took effect with the release of Factur-X 1.07.2 and ZUGFeRD 2.3.2. This hybrid standard, offering both human-readable PDF A/3 and structured XML data, is the cornerstone of e-invoicing in France and Germany. Here’s what businesses need to know.
An updated standard for broad adoption
Factur-X 1.07.2 is a significant step forward for businesses of all sizes, combining legal compliance and automation readiness. The update aligns the standard with EN16931, incorporating a “Reference” profile (XRECHNUNG) and an EXTENDED-CTC-FR profile tailored to France’s electronic invoicing reform.
This version is based on UN/CEFACT CII D22B, ensuring backward compatibility with previous iterations, so existing invoices remain valid under the updated framework.
Profiles for diverse needs
Factur-X supports various profiles to meet different business requirements:
- Minimum: Captures essential data for compliance with France’s ChorusPro platform.
- Basic WL: Focuses on high-level automation needs at the document level.
- Basic: Adds item-level data for more advanced processing.
- EN16931: Aligns with the European Semantic Standard.
- Extended: Introduces additional data for complex transactions, including subsets for France and Germany.
These profiles ensure businesses can adopt the standard incrementally as their e-invoicing maturity grows.
Implementation and compatibility
Factur-X is fully integrated with France’s ChorusPro portal and supported by over 70 registered PDPs and numerous software vendors. It streamlines invoice processing for manual and automated workflows, ensuring scalability and reliability for users on both sides of the Franco-German border.
The November update includes new code lists, schematics, and technical documentation in French, English, and German. This unified approach ensures consistency and accessibility for users.
Profile documentation available
In addition to the main update, downloadable documentation for the Factur-X profiles is now available in French, German, and English. These resources help businesses understand and implement the different profiles effectively, regardless of their language preference.
Key takeaways
- From November 15, 2024, Factur-X 1.07.2 and ZUGFeRD 2.3.2 are fully applicable.
- Businesses should review the profiles to select the one best suited for their needs.
- Existing invoices under version 1.01.06 remain compliant, ensuring a smooth transition.
- Technical documentation for these updates is available in multiple languages.
- Profile-specific downloads in French, German, and English provide further implementation guidance.
To learn more about Factur-X 1.07.2 and access the complete documentation, visit the official Factur-X page.
