Open an XRechnung

You can open an XRechnung in your browser with the Klarbon viewer: drop the XML file and it appears as a readable invoice with seller, buyer, lines, VAT and totals. It is free and unlimited, needs no account and the file never leaves your device. Opening does not validate the invoice; use Check for that.

What is an XRechnung file?

An XRechnung is a German e-invoice in XML, the format defined by KoSIT for invoices to German public bodies and available for business-to-business use (KoSIT). The XML is the invoice itself, not a broken PDF. It is written either in UBL or in UN/CEFACT CII syntax, and Klarbon reads both.

Double-clicking rechnung.xml usually shows a wall of tags in a browser or text editor. That is normal: the file is meant for software, and a viewer turns it back into something a person can read. More on the format in what is XRechnung.

How do I open an XRechnung?

Drop the file on the viewer, or tap to choose it. The invoice renders straight away in your language, whatever language it was written in.

1. Choose or drop the .xml file. A ZUGFeRD or Factur-X PDF with XML inside works too.
2. Klarbon detects the syntax (UBL or CII) and shows the invoice: parties, invoice number and date, payment terms, each line, VAT breakdown and totals.
3. Read, print or save it as a PDF.
4. If the file will not open, try Check: it reports what is wrong with the structure instead of guessing.

A synthetic example: an XRechnung from "Muster Bau GmbH" for EUR 1,190.00 opens as an invoice showing the seller's VAT number, the Leitweg-ID or buyer reference, two lines of work, 19% VAT of EUR 190.00 and the IBAN for payment.

Can I read an XRechnung on my phone or a Mac?

Yes. The viewer runs in any modern browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android, with nothing to install. On an iPhone, open the site and pick the file from Files or Mail. On Android and in desktop Chrome or Edge, you can install Klarbon from the browser and share an attachment straight to it.

Is my file uploaded?

No. Open runs entirely in your browser, so the XRechnung stays on your device while you read, print or save it. Check, Convert and the other tools work differently: they send the file to Klarbon's servers and delete it after the request. See what happens to your files.

How do I save an XRechnung as a PDF?

Open the file and choose Print, then Save as PDF in your browser's print dialogue. The PDF is a readable copy for your records, your bookkeeper or a payment approval. It is not a new e-invoice: the XML remains the original, so keep it as well. Free readable PDFs carry a small "Opened with Klarbon" line.

Does opening an XRechnung check that it is valid?

No. The viewer shows what the file contains; it does not test the rules. An XRechnung can display perfectly and still break a rule, such as a missing buyer reference or totals that do not add up. Check the invoice against EN 16931 and the XRechnung rules to find out, with guidance on returned findings.

Do I have to accept XRechnung invoices in Germany?

Since 1 January 2025, businesses in Germany must be able to receive e-invoices for in-scope domestic B2B supplies, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance. XRechnung is one of the accepted structured formats. Issuing becomes mandatory in stages up to 2028, with exceptions. The German e-invoicing guide has the dates and sources; it is not tax advice.

What next?

• Check an e-invoice: free within a daily limit.
• Turn a PDF into an e-invoice: one credit, with a full preview before you pay.
• Prices and limits and the help centre.
• All tools: Klarbon tools.