Factur-X is the french name for the german-french e-invoice standard of hybrid electronic invoicing, which is currently freely available in version 1.0. The current and complete version of Factur-X in France is version EN 16931 (COMFORT). This is equivalent to the specifications of ZUGFeRD 2.1 and includes the requirements of CIUS X invoice 1.2 compatible with the German authorities and Chorus Pro in France.
Together with France, Germany has developed the hybrid format ZUGFeRD 2.1 / Factur-X to make electronic data exchange accessible to all companies, regardless of their size or potential resources. This standard combines the two most widely used invoice formats: XML & PDF.
Through the detailed view of information & the structured form of the invoice format, Factur-X creates added value for suppliers and invoice issuers. The French National Forum for e-invoicing and public procurement (FNFE-MPE) is constantly working to improve and maintain this invoicing standard.
Common e-invoice standard for Germany & France
B2G e-invoicing (transmission of e-invoices to the public administration) has been mandatory in France since 2017 for companies with more than 5,000 employees. Since January 2020, even the smallest companies with less than 10 employees must now issue electronic invoices to public administrations.
In France, valid invoices are created using the Factur-X invoice standard. This creates an XML (structured) and PDF (visual) invoice, which can be read by humans and machines.
The sending of invoices to public administrations & authorities must be sent and processed via the French service portal Chrous Pro.
New finance law in France: e-invoicing compulsory from 2023
Wir empfehlen immer die Version EN16931 (COMFORT) „fully compliant“ zu verwenden, wenn möglich
INPOSIA supports you with the complete transfer of Factur-X invoices.
In order for invoices to be sent as Factur-X, a PDF/A-3 must first be generated. The supplier sends invoice data from his ERP system, usually via an IDoc interface. At INPOSIA, we map the invoice document, the EN16931 XML, to a factur-x.xml file and generate an invoice form in PDF/A, which is then merged into a PDF/A-3.
This finished invoice is now transmitted from INPOSIA to Chorus Pro, where it is then forwarded to the final invoice recipient, the public administration. The public administrations connected to Choru Pro regularly send status messages, whether the invoice has been accepted without errors and what the processing status is.
INPOSIA sends the transmitted Factur-X invoice to the invoicing party, for example for archiving purposes.
The embedding of additional attachments (delivery notes, orders, …) as PDF in the invoice PDF/A-3 is possible and allowed and desired in Chorus Pro.
Soon there will be ORDER-X or XOrders, where order requests and delivery notes can be officially processed via Chorus Pro.
They´re also working on a version for acknowledgement of receipt that can be used in France and Germany. In France, the Chorus Pro portal provides the XML file type FSO1100, which contains the current status of the invoice. It also provides information about rejected invoices due to problems or errors. The goal is to define an APERAK (technical error messages and acknowledgement) with an international code list to receive the information in your own language.
Then get in touch with our e-Invoicing experts. We are happy to be there for you. By telephone, by e-mail or personally at your premises!
Muzaffer Havcarci
INPOSIA e-invoicing Specialist
E-Ordering in Italy with NSO