E-Invoice: What Does that Mean Exactly?
E-invoicing will become mandatory in January 2025. We’ll show you what you need to watch out for!
Watch out!
The E-Invoice Obligation Is Coming!
Have you heard about the e-invoicing obligation? From January 2025, electronic invoices in the B2B sector (between companies) are expected to become mandatory in Germany. This means that companies must be able to send outgoing e-invoices and process incoming e-invoices. If you have not yet established this process, you are now facing a number of challenges. But don’t worry – we will support you and answer all your questions: What is an e-invoice? Who is obliged to send out e-invoices? Is a PDF an e-invoice? When will e-invoicing become mandatory? How does anaptis support the e-invoice process?
E-Invoice Obligation:
Who Is Obliged to Issue an E-Invoice?
Companies subject to VAT are obliged to issue E-invoices. This means: companies that provide services for a fee on a sustainable basis (e. g. commercial enterprises, self-employed persons or landlords of real estate).
Don't Know where to Start?
anaptis Has Got Your Back when it Comes to E-Invoice!
As a specialist in Dynamics 365 Business Central/
Why anaptis? Discover the advantages that will make your heart beat faster:
- We prefer a software approach close to the standard and first check whether a requirement can be solved with the standard.
- From day one, you can count on honest and fair statements. We also stick to our statements.
- You will be supervised by a permanent project team. We also make sure that everyone feels involved and understood.
We Have Inquired:
What Is Meant by an E-Invoice?
E-invoices are used to transmit, receive and process invoice information electronically. The purpose of the e-invoice is to digitize and automate the invoicing process, enabling digital processing from creation to payment.
The advantages are obvious:
- Simple invoicing without media disruptions
- Shorter throughput times and faster processing of invoices
- Increase of productivity in invoice dispatch
- Cost savings in the areas of paper and postage
- Reducing susceptibility to errors and increasing process quality through automation
- Location-independent invoicing (advantageous for decentralized invoice processing/mobile working)
To Clarify:
Is a PDF an E-Invoice? So Is it Sufficient to Send Invoices by PDF?
No. Although PDF invoices are sent and received digitally, they are only an image of the invoice. In other words, an image of the paper version. Incidentally, this also includes invoices in .tif, .jpeg and .docx formats. These are not sufficient for automatic and electronic processing. This is because in order to process PDF invoices, for example, the invoice data must be transferred to the accounting software manually or via additional systems (e.g.
The e-invoice, on the other hand, is an invoice issued in accordance with the EU standard in structured format (
For Your Overview:
When Will the E-Invoice Be Mandatory?
The 2025 e-invoicing obligation was adopted as part of the Growth Opportunities Act and will apply from January 1, 2025. However, due to the major challenges for companies, some transitional periods are planned for the period from 2025-2027 in accordance with Section 27 (39) UStG-E:
- From 01.01.2025From 01.01.2025
According to the Growth Opportunities Act, all domestic companies must be able to receive and archive electronic invoices.
- Until 31.12.2025Until 31.12.2025
It is permitted to issue paper invoices instead of e-invoices. It is also permitted to issue electronic invoices that do not comply with the new format (with the consent of the invoice recipient).
- Until 31.12.2026Until 31.12.2026
For companies with a total turnover of up to EUR 800,000 in the previous year, the transitional period for issuing invoices on paper or in another electronic format will be extended by one year.
- Until 31.12.2027Until 31.12.2027
Instead of an e-invoice, it is also permitted to issue another invoice in a different electronic format if this is transmitted by means of electronic data exchange (with the consent of the invoice recipient).
- From 01.01.2028From 01.01.2028
Compliance with the new requirements regarding e-invoices and their transmission is mandatory.
Your Options with anaptis:
Which Apps Can You Use to Create an E-Invoice?
Continia Document Capture
Continia Document Capture allows you to capture, recognize, process and file incoming documents (e.g. e-mails).
Continia Document Output
With Continia Document Output, you can send documents such as invoices or quotations automatically via e-mail or as
Belware XRechnung
With the Belware XRechnung
Save yourself some stress:
Act now and Be Optimally Prepared!
Our tip: Don’t put off the issue until the end of the year – act now. DATEV also recommends this in its news on the topic of mandatory e-invoicing in 2025. Let us advise you and set the course for mandatory e-invoicing in 2025 today.
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