Check an e-invoice

You can check an e-invoice with the Klarbon validator: upload the XML or hybrid PDF and it tests the file against EN 16931 and the rules for its format, such as XRechnung, Peppol BIS Billing, ZUGFeRD or Factur-X. Returned findings include rule codes and guidance where available. It is free for five checks a day, twenty with a free account.

How do I check an e-invoice?

Upload the file; the validator detects the format and runs the rules that apply.

1. Choose the file: UBL or CII XML, or a ZUGFeRD or Factur-X PDF.
2. Let Klarbon pick the rules. It selects supported rules from the specification the invoice declares, for example XRechnung 3.0 in CII or Peppol BIS Billing 3.0. French national rules require selecting France.
3. Read the report. Returned findings show the rule id and severity, with a location and correction guidance where available.
4. Correct and recheck. Fix the invoice in your software and check the new file. If you cannot, Fix opens the invoice as a form, corrects it and writes a new validated file for one credit.

The report always names the ruleset and version it used, so you can compare with what your customer's portal applied.

What does a report look like?

A synthetic example of two findings on an XRechnung:

Catalogue rule ids link to guidance where available. A schema error or uncatalogued rule may not have its own explanation page. Browse them in invoice error codes.

What is the difference between an error and a warning?

An error or fatal finding makes the selected check fail. Warnings and information are reported separately and do not by themselves make Klarbon's result fail. Fix errors first and review warnings. Neither severity nor a pass establishes whether a recipient will accept the invoice.

Which rules does Klarbon apply?

Klarbon selects a supported, regression-tested rule set from the file's declaration: EN 16931, XRechnung 3.0, Peppol BIS Billing 3.0, NLCIUS or a supported Factur-X or ZUGFeRD profile. For hybrid PDFs it also checks the PDF container. Checking is in beta; unsupported declarations fail rather than silently receiving a different check. French national rules run only when you select France, not merely because an address is French. Rule sets are pinned to specific releases.

Two validators can disagree when they use different rule versions or treat the declared specification differently. The report's ruleset and version line tells you which one Klarbon used.

Does a valid result mean my customer will accept the invoice?

Not necessarily. A pass means the file met the selected technical rules. It does not confirm that the VAT treatment is right, that the IBAN belongs to the seller, that the goods were delivered or that the recipient has no extra requirements of their own. Technical validation is not a tax opinion.

Does a Peppol invoice need anything special?

Yes. Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 adds rules to EN 16931, for example that the business process must be stated (PEPPOL-EN16931-R001). Klarbon applies them when the file declares Peppol. It does not send the invoice over the Peppol network.

Can I check without an account?

Yes. Five checks a day work without an account and twenty a day with a free one. Pro and Bookkeeper include up to 2,000 checks a day. See prices.

What happens to my file?

Unlike Open, Check sends the file to Klarbon's servers, where it is validated in memory and deleted after the request. Klarbon keeps no copy and logs no invoice content. See what happens to your files. If the validation service is briefly unavailable, Klarbon says so rather than reporting the file as valid or invalid, and the attempt does not count against your limit.

What next?

• Open an e-invoice to read it, free and on your device
• Fix a rejected e-invoice
• Convert a PDF into an e-invoice or make one from a form
• Help and all tools