ZUGFeRD / Factur-X e-Invoice

Create a ZUGFeRD / Factur-X electronic invoice -- a hybrid PDF that humans can read and machines can parse automatically.

What is ZUGFeRD / Factur-X?

ZUGFeRD (Germany) and Factur-X (France / EU) are the same standard under two names. A compliant invoice contains:

Visual PDF -- a human-readable invoice rendered as PDF/A-3 (or PDF/A-4f)
Embedded XML -- machine-readable invoice data in the UN/CEFACT Cross Industry Invoice (CII) format, attached inside the PDF

This enables fully automated processing while keeping a familiar visual document for accountants and auditors.

Profiles

Profile	Typical Use
Minimum	Invoice number, date, totals, tax
Basic WL	+ Line items, payment terms
Basic	+ Detailed line items
EN 16931 (Comfort)	EU public procurement compliance
Extended	Complex multi-tax invoices
XRechnung	German public-sector invoicing

PDF/A Requirement

ZUGFeRD requires the host PDF to be PDF/A-3 or PDF/A-4f (ISO 19005). The "f" variant allows embedded files. TCPDF-Next handles the conformance metadata, output intent, and file attachment flags automatically.

Full Code Example

php

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

require __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';

use TcpdfNext\Document;
use TcpdfNext\Enums\PdfALevel;
use TcpdfNext\Archive\OutputIntent;
use TcpdfNext\Archive\EmbeddedFile;
use TcpdfNext\Archive\AFRelationship;

// ── 1. Create a PDF/A-4f document ──────────────────────────────────────
$pdf = Document::create()
    ->setPdfALevel(PdfALevel::A4F)
    ->setOutputIntent(OutputIntent::sRGB())
    ->setTitle('Invoice INV-2026-0042')
    ->setAuthor('Acme GmbH')
    ->setSubject('Invoice for Order PO-2026-0815');

// ── 2. Render the visual invoice ───────────────────────────────────────
$invoiceHtml = <<<'HTML'
<h1 style="color:#1a2634;">INVOICE</h1>
<table style="width:100%; margin-bottom:20px;">
    <tr>
        <td><strong>Acme GmbH</strong><br>Friedrichstr. 123<br>10117 Berlin, DE</td>
        <td style="text-align:right;"><strong>INV-2026-0042</strong><br>Date: 2026-02-15<br>Due: 2026-03-17</td>
    </tr>
</table>
<table border="1" cellpadding="6" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse;">
    <thead>
        <tr style="background:#1a2634; color:#fff;">
            <th>#</th><th>Description</th><th style="text-align:right;">Amount</th>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        <tr>
            <td>1</td>
            <td>Professional Services -- February 2026</td>
            <td style="text-align:right;">EUR 1,000.00</td>
        </tr>
    </tbody>
    <tfoot>
        <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align:right;">Net</td><td style="text-align:right;">EUR 1,000.00</td></tr>
        <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align:right;">VAT 19%</td><td style="text-align:right;">EUR 190.00</td></tr>
        <tr style="font-weight:bold;">
            <td colspan="2" style="text-align:right;">Total</td>
            <td style="text-align:right;">EUR 1,190.00</td>
        </tr>
    </tfoot>
</table>
HTML;

$pdf->addPage()
    ->setFont('helvetica', size: 10)
    ->writeHtml($invoiceHtml);

// ── 3. Build the Factur-X XML (EN 16931 profile) ───────────────────────
$xml = <<<'XML'
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice
    xmlns:rsm="urn:un:unece:uncefact:data:standard:CrossIndustryInvoice:100"
    xmlns:ram="urn:un:unece:uncefact:data:standard:ReusableAggregateBusinessInformationEntity:100"
    xmlns:udt="urn:un:unece:uncefact:data:standard:UnqualifiedDataType:100">
  <rsm:ExchangedDocumentContext>
    <ram:GuidelineSpecifiedDocumentContextParameter>
      <ram:ID>urn:factur-x.eu:1p0:en16931</ram:ID>
    </ram:GuidelineSpecifiedDocumentContextParameter>
  </rsm:ExchangedDocumentContext>
  <rsm:ExchangedDocument>
    <ram:ID>INV-2026-0042</ram:ID>
    <ram:TypeCode>380</ram:TypeCode>
    <ram:IssueDateTime>
      <udt:DateTimeString format="102">20260215</udt:DateTimeString>
    </ram:IssueDateTime>
  </rsm:ExchangedDocument>
  <rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction>
    <ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement>
      <ram:SellerTradeParty>
        <ram:Name>Acme GmbH</ram:Name>
        <ram:SpecifiedTaxRegistration>
          <ram:ID schemeID="VA">DE123456789</ram:ID>
        </ram:SpecifiedTaxRegistration>
      </ram:SellerTradeParty>
      <ram:BuyerTradeParty>
        <ram:Name>Customer Corp</ram:Name>
      </ram:BuyerTradeParty>
    </ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement>
    <ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement>
      <ram:InvoiceCurrencyCode>EUR</ram:InvoiceCurrencyCode>
      <ram:SpecifiedTradeSettlementHeaderMonetarySummation>
        <ram:LineTotalAmount>1000.00</ram:LineTotalAmount>
        <ram:TaxBasisTotalAmount>1000.00</ram:TaxBasisTotalAmount>
        <ram:TaxTotalAmount currencyID="EUR">190.00</ram:TaxTotalAmount>
        <ram:GrandTotalAmount>1190.00</ram:GrandTotalAmount>
        <ram:DuePayableAmount>1190.00</ram:DuePayableAmount>
      </ram:SpecifiedTradeSettlementHeaderMonetarySummation>
    </ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement>
  </rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction>
</rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice>
XML;

// ── 4. Embed the XML as an associated file ─────────────────────────────
$pdf->addEmbeddedFile(
    EmbeddedFile::create()
        ->setFilename('factur-x.xml')
        ->setMimeType('text/xml')
        ->setContent($xml)
        ->setRelationship(AFRelationship::Alternative)
        ->setDescription('Factur-X EN 16931 invoice data')
);

// ── 5. Set ZUGFeRD XMP metadata ────────────────────────────────────────
$pdf->getMetadata()
    ->setXmpProperty('fx:DocumentType', 'INVOICE')
    ->setXmpProperty('fx:DocumentFileName', 'factur-x.xml')
    ->setXmpProperty('fx:Version', '1.0')
    ->setXmpProperty('fx:ConformanceLevel', 'EN 16931');

// ── 6. Save ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
$pdf->save(__DIR__ . '/INV-2026-0042.pdf');

echo 'ZUGFeRD invoice created.' . PHP_EOL;

Validation

bash

# PDF/A conformance
verapdf --flavour 4f INV-2026-0042.pdf

# Factur-X XML schema
java -jar Mustang-CLI.jar --action validate --source INV-2026-0042.pdf

TIP

Mustangproject is a free open-source validator for ZUGFeRD/Factur-X invoices.

Workflow Diagram

ERP / billing data
        |
        v
  TCPDF-Next generate
        |
        v
  PDF/A-4f + embedded factur-x.xml
        |
        v
  (optional) PAdES digital signature
        |
        +-------+-------+-------+
        |       |       |       |
      Email   Portal  PEPPOL  Archive

ZUGFeRD / Factur-X e-Invoice ​

What is ZUGFeRD / Factur-X? ​

Profiles ​

PDF/A Requirement ​

Full Code Example ​

Validation ​

Workflow Diagram ​

Further Reading ​