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Convert a PDF invoice to ZUGFeRD

PDF to ZUGFeRD: enter details in a form for a validated PDF/A-3 with CII XML, 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 ZUGFeRD? Keep the PDF beside Klarbon's form and enter its details yourself. Klarbon generates a new readable PDF/A-3 page with CII XML inside and validates it before you download. Automatic PDF reading is not available yet. The preview is free; a validated download costs one credit.

How do I convert a PDF to ZUGFeRD?

  1. Keep the PDF beside the form. Enter the seller, buyer, lines, amounts and payment details yourself. Klarbon marks required fields.
  2. Choose the profile. EN 16931 carries a complete invoice with lines.
  3. Compare and validate. Check every value against your original. Klarbon creates a new PDF/A-3 page, embeds CII XML and checks it against the selected rules.
  4. Download. One credit unlocks the validated file.

Which profile should I choose?

Profile Contains Use
EN 16931 the full invoice, with lines offered by Klarbon; confirm the recipient accepts it
BASIC lines, a subset of EN 16931 when the customer names it
EXTENDED EN 16931 plus extra fields when the customer needs those fields
XRECHNUNG a separate profile in some ZUGFeRD releases not offered by Klarbon's form
MINIMUM, BASIC WL header and totals, no lines not an e-invoice in Germany

In Germany, ZUGFeRD counts as an e-invoice from version 2.0.1, except the MINIMUM and BASIC WL profiles (BMF FAQ). ZUGFeRD is published by FeRD (FeRD); corresponding modern releases are technically identical to Factur-X. Acceptance still depends on the requested version and profile.

What must I check before downloading?

Seller and buyer with VAT numbers, invoice number and dates, each line with quantity, price and VAT rate, the totals and the payment details. Validation tests consistency, not truth: a wrong amount that adds up still passes. Also compare Klarbon's newly generated page and XML with your original PDF; both are created from the details you enter.

Can I use a scanned invoice?

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

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 my files.

What does it cost?

One credit per invoice: EUR 4.99, ten for EUR 29, fifty for EUR 99. Filling the form and checking the preview are free. If no valid file can be produced, no credit is used. See prices.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert a PDF invoice to ZUGFeRD?

Keep the PDF beside you and enter its invoice details in Klarbon's form. Choose the profile; Klarbon marks required fields, writes and validates the ZUGFeRD file, and charges one credit for the download. Automatic PDF reading is not available yet.

Which ZUGFeRD profile should I choose?

Klarbon offers EN 16931, BASIC and EXTENDED. Confirm the profile your customer accepts. MINIMUM and BASIC WL do not count as e-invoices in Germany and are not offered by the form; neither is a hybrid XRECHNUNG profile.

Does a ZUGFeRD invoice still look like my PDF?

No. Klarbon generates a new readable page from the details you enter, with CII XML embedded in the PDF/A-3 file. Compare the generated page with your original PDF.

Is ZUGFeRD accepted as an e-invoice in Germany?

Yes, from version 2.0.1, except the MINIMUM and BASIC WL profiles, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Is saving my PDF as PDF/A-3 enough?

No. ZUGFeRD needs the invoice data as CII XML embedded in the PDF/A-3 file with the right metadata. Without the XML it is an ordinary PDF.

Sources

Updated 6 November 2026