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Convert a PDF invoice to XRechnung

PDF to XRechnung: enter details in a form and download validated XML for one credit. Automatic PDF reading is not available yet.

In short

Fill in one form and get an e-invoice checked against the selected rules, for the few you send a year. Free preview, then 1 credit (€4.99).

Have a PDF invoice but need XRechnung? Keep the PDF beside Klarbon's form and enter its details yourself. Klarbon marks required fields, writes XRechnung and checks it against the selected rules before you download it. Automatic PDF reading is not available yet. The preview is free; a validated download costs one credit (EUR 4.99, less in packs). Klarbon writes the file; it does not send it.

How do I convert a PDF invoice to XRechnung?

Enter the details from your PDF, choose UBL or CII and pay for the validated file. Allow time to check every value against the original.

  1. Keep the PDF beside the form. Enter the seller, buyer, lines, amounts and payment details yourself.
  2. Complete the required fields. XRechnung needs details an ordinary PDF often lacks, such as the buyer reference (BT-10). Klarbon marks every required field; you fill it.
  3. Choose the syntax. XRechnung exists in UBL and CII. If your customer or their portal names one, use that; otherwise either can be valid.
  4. Check, validate and download. Compare every value with your original PDF. Klarbon writes the XML and checks it against EN 16931 and the XRechnung rules before you pay. One credit unlocks a validated download.

What must I check before downloading?

Check every value that would make the invoice wrong if it were wrong, not just the ones that look odd. A file can pass validation and still contain a wrong amount, because the rules test consistency, not truth.

Can I use a scanned PDF?

Yes, if you can read its details and enter them yourself. Automatic reading of scanned or ordinary PDFs is not available yet.

Does renaming a PDF to .xml make it an XRechnung?

No. An XRechnung is XML written to a precise standard (KoSIT), and renaming a PDF changes only its name. Likewise, a PDF/A file without the right XML inside is not an e-invoice. Conversion means writing new structured data from the invoice's content.

Will the converted file contain information that was not on my PDF?

Only what you add. Klarbon never invents a buyer reference, a VAT number or a payment term. If the XRechnung rules require a field your PDF does not show, the form asks you for it. If you do not have it, ask your customer before sending.

Do I need a Leitweg-ID?

Only when the recipient requires one, often for German public-sector invoices. A Leitweg-ID belongs in the buyer reference field (BT-10), not the electronic delivery address. For B2B invoices, use the buyer reference your customer gives you; the Federal Ministry of Finance says a placeholder such as "-" is sufficient for VAT purposes (BMF FAQ, question 6).

How much does it cost?

One credit per validated file downloaded. Filling the form and checking the preview are free. One credit is EUR 4.99, ten are EUR 29 and fifty are EUR 99; bought credits do not expire; monthly plan credits do not roll over. You do not need an account to buy a single credit. If Klarbon cannot produce a valid file, no credit is used. See prices.

What happens to my PDF?

The PDF stays on your device. The form doesn't upload it; you keep it open beside the form for reference. The details you type are sent to Klarbon to write and validate the file, and they are not kept once the file is returned. See what happens to your files.

Does Klarbon send the XRechnung for me?

No. You download the file and send it the way your customer asks: by email, through their supplier portal or through the public-sector platforms. Klarbon does not submit invoices to any portal and does not archive them, so keep your own copy.

When do German businesses have to issue e-invoices?

Germany requires in-scope businesses to receive e-invoices since 1 January 2025. Issuing becomes mandatory in stages: through 2026 other formats remain allowed, extended through 2027 for businesses with prior-year turnover up to EUR 800,000, with exceptions such as small businesses under the Kleinunternehmer rules (BMF FAQ). See the German e-invoicing guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert a PDF invoice to XRechnung?

Keep your PDF beside the form and enter every invoice detail yourself. Klarbon marks required fields such as the buyer reference, validates the XRechnung and charges one credit for the download. Automatic PDF reading is not available yet.

Can I convert a scanned invoice PDF to XRechnung?

Yes, if you can read its details and enter them yourself. Automatic reading of scanned or ordinary PDFs is not available yet.

What information must I review before downloading a converted invoice?

The seller and buyer details and VAT numbers, the invoice number and dates, the buyer reference or Leitweg-ID, each line with its quantity, price and VAT category, the totals and the payment details.

Does renaming a PDF to XML make it an e-invoice?

No. XRechnung needs structured XML; renaming a PDF changes only its filename.

Can conversion to XRechnung add information missing from the original?

Every value comes from you. The form marks fields the rules require, such as a buyer reference, for you to fill.

How much does a PDF invoice conversion cost?

One credit per validated file downloaded. A single credit is EUR 4.99, ten cost EUR 29 and fifty cost EUR 99. Filling the form and checking the preview are free; no credit is used if no valid file can be produced.

Sources

Updated 6 November 2026