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budget and accounts, local on your machine
Office tool
Invoice Reader
v1.5.1WINDOWSFree
Ihr Lieferant schickt keine PDF mehr, sondern eine rechnung.xml — lesbar macht sie das Gesetz nicht.
Free
This tool is free. Create an account — no payment details — and download right away.
XRechnung & ZUGFeRD
Beide Formate, ein Doppelklick.
Lesbar wie Papier
Positionen, Steuern, Zahlungsziel — sauber formatiert.
Komplett offline
Ihre Rechnungen bleiben auf Ihrem Rechner.
How to start
- 1Konto anlegen — ohne Zahlungsdaten.
- 2Programm laden und installieren.
- 3E-Rechnung per Doppelklick öffnen.
Facts
| Version | 1.5.1 |
|---|---|
| Platform | Windows 10/11 (64-Bit) |
| Languages | Deutsch, English, Français, 中文 |
| License & origin | Quba-Viewer (Apache-2.0) |
| Price | Free — registration is all it takes |
Guide & Know-how
Why German suppliers now send XML files instead of PDFs
Germany is phasing in mandatory electronic invoicing for domestic business-to-business transactions. Companies operating in Germany must already be able to receive structured e-invoices; the obligation to issue them is arriving step by step, with transition periods. If you freelance or run a company here, this concerns you regardless of size. The crucial point for anyone new to the German system: an E-Rechnung (e-invoice) in the legal sense is not a PDF. It is a structured data file meant to be read by software, not by people. That is why a file called rechnung.xml increasingly lands in inboxes where a neatly formatted PDF used to be. The law requires machine-readable data — it does not make that data readable for humans.
XRechnung and ZUGFeRD: the two formats you will meet
Most German e-invoices come in one of two formats, both built on the same European standard for electronic invoicing:
- XRechnung is pure XML. The file contains nothing but structured data — sender, line items, tax rates, payment details — and no visual layout at all. Opened in a browser or text editor, it shows angle brackets and field names, not an invoice. The format originated in invoicing with German public-sector bodies and has since spread into regular B2B traffic.
- ZUGFeRD is a hybrid: a PDF file with the same structured XML embedded inside it. You can view it like any normal invoice — but the embedded data part, not the visible page, is what counts.
In short: with ZUGFeRD there is at least something to look at; with XRechnung there is not. In both cases the structured content is authoritative.
You received a rechnung.xml — what now?
The most common reaction is the wrong one: ignoring the file and asking the supplier for a "proper invoice". The XML file is the proper invoice. It must be checked, paid, and kept on record like any other. Three things not to do:
- Delete it or let it sit — payment deadlines run regardless.
- Retype amounts from the raw XML by hand — slow and error-prone.
- Wait for a PDF copy — many senders simply no longer provide one.
Also worth knowing: the unchanged XML file itself is the original for your records; a printout is merely a working copy. What is missing is not a new accounting system but simply a viewer — just as a PDF needs a PDF reader, an e-invoice needs an e-invoice reader.
How the Rechnungs-Leser closes the gap
The Rechnungs-Leser by AURIFEXA does exactly that: double-click the XML file and the data set becomes a readable, printable document — sender, line items, taxes, and payment information right where you expect them. You check the invoice on screen, print it for your files, or archive it as usual. The tool is made for everyone who receives German e-invoices without wanting to introduce full accounting software: small businesses, freelancers, international teams, landlords, clubs. It is free to use after registration.
Note: This information does not constitute legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a rechnung.xml file from a German supplier?
That file is a German e-invoice (E-Rechnung): structured XML meant for software, so a browser or editor only shows raw tags. You need a viewer. The Rechnungs-Leser by AURIFEXA turns the file into a readable, printable document with sender, line items, taxes, and payment details in one double-click, and it is free to use after registration.
What is the difference between XRechnung and ZUGFeRD?
Both are German e-invoice formats based on the same European standard. XRechnung is pure XML with no visual layer at all — you cannot read it without a viewer. ZUGFeRD is a hybrid: a normal-looking PDF with the structured XML embedded inside. In both cases the machine-readable data part, not the visual presentation, is what legally counts.
Is B2B e-invoicing mandatory in Germany?
Germany is phasing in mandatory e-invoicing for domestic business-to-business transactions. Companies must already be able to receive structured e-invoices, while the obligation to issue them is rolled out gradually with transition periods. If you run a business or freelance in Germany, expect more suppliers to send XML files instead of PDFs — and treat those files as real invoices.
Is an XML invoice legally valid without a PDF?
Yes. Under the German rules, the structured data file itself is the invoice; no PDF or paper version is required. Payment deadlines apply as usual, and the unchanged XML file is what belongs in your records. A printout or an on-screen view, for example from an e-invoice viewer, is simply a working copy for everyday use.
Is the Rechnungs-Leser free to use?
Yes — the tool is free to use after registration. It opens German e-invoices such as XRechnung files with a double-click and displays sender, line items, taxes, and payment information as a readable, printable document. It is designed for freelancers, small businesses, and international teams that receive German e-invoices but do not want to set up full accounting software.
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