For Tradespeople & Trade Businesses

Invoice for a government agency? XRechnung in 60 seconds — no IT skills needed.

Public-sector clients — federal, state, municipal — only accept XRechnung. TaxLayer turns your PDF invoice into the right file so you get paid on time.

Create your invoice as usual — on paper, in Word, or in your trade software. Upload the PDF to TaxLayer and download the finished XRechnung. Done. No XML, no manual.

Try free now How it works →

✓KoSIT-validated✓Routing ID support✓2 free conversions daily

Result — XRechnung for authority

Input

sanitaer_auftrag_stadtwerk.pdf

Your invoice · €3,840.00 · 19.05.2026

↓ TaxLayer AI · 0.9 seconds

Output — XRechnung 3.0

xrechnung_stadtwerk_042026.xml

EN 16931 · CIUS DE · KoSIT 2.1.1

Leitweg-ID

991-1234-56 ✓

Steuernr.

DE987654321 ✓

Profil

XRechnung 3.0

Validierung

● Bestanden

The Problem

Authorities no longer accept normal PDFs — and it costs tradespeople real money.

XRechnung is not a trend, it's the law. Submit the wrong file and you wait for your money.

Public-sector clients reject PDFs.

Federal, state, and municipal authorities have accepted only XRechnung since 2020/2025. Submit a regular PDF and it comes back — forcing you to start over. Payment is delayed by weeks.

What even is a routing ID?

Authorities use routing IDs to assign invoices to the correct clerk. If the ID is missing or wrong, your invoice disappears. TaxLayer guides you through this field and checks the format automatically.

Creating XRechnung manually is unrealistic for tradespeople.

UBL 2.1 XML, EN 16931, CIUS DE — that's IT language. Tradespeople build and install, they're not XML programmers. TaxLayer handles the technical part completely.

Incorrect invoices don't get paid.

Wrong profile version, missing mandatory fields, invalid VAT ID — government portals are unforgiving. TaxLayer validates every invoice against the official KoSIT schemas before you submit.

In three steps

Easier than filling out a form.

No training, no manual. You know the result: an invoice the authority accepts.

Upload invoice as PDF

Upload your finished invoice as PDF — from Word, your trade software, or as a scan. TaxLayer reads the data automatically.

heizung_rathaus_042026.pdf✓

Fields recognized · ready for review

Enter routing ID & review

TaxLayer displays all recognized fields. Enter your client's routing ID — TaxLayer checks the format automatically and flags missing mandatory fields.

Betrag4.760,00 € ✓Leitweg-ID991-1234-56 ✓USt-IdNr.DE123456789 ✓KoSIT● Bestanden

Download XRechnung & submit

Download the finished XRechnung and submit it to your client's portal (ZRE for federal authorities, or your state/municipal portal).

↓ XRechnung.xml

• KoSIT-validated · authority-accepted

Why TaxLayer for tradespeople

Made for people who don't have an IT department.

TaxLayer solves the XRechnung problem — without you needing to understand what XRechnung is technically.

No XML, no manual

You don't need technical knowledge. Simply upload PDF, enter routing ID, download finished XRechnung. The entire process takes under 2 minutes.

–No KoSIT account needed
–No XML knowledge
–Works in the browser

Validation before submission

TaxLayer checks every XRechnung against the official KoSIT schemas before you download it. Rejections due to format errors are a thing of the past.

–KoSIT Schematron check
–Routing ID format validation
–Clear error messages

Free for occasional users

2 conversions per month permanently free — no credit card, no subscription. Perfect for businesses that only occasionally work for public-sector clients.

–€0 for up to 2 invoices / month
–Pro for higher volume: €15 / month
–Cancel monthly

FAQ

Common questions from trade businesses about XRechnung.

What tradespeople really want to know — clearly answered.

Must tradespeople submit invoices to authorities as XRechnung?

Yes. All invoices to federal authorities must be submitted as XRechnung via the Central Invoice Entry Portal (ZRE) since 2020. Most federal states and many municipalities have introduced similar requirements. Those who continue to submit PDFs risk having their invoices rejected and payments withheld.

What is a routing ID and where can I find it as a tradesperson?

The routing ID is an identifier of your public-sector client that ensures the XRechnung reaches the correct recipient. You can find it in the order, contract, or award letter from the authority. If no routing ID is provided, ask the client directly — without it, the invoice is usually rejected.

Can I use TaxLayer as a tradesperson without IT skills?

Yes, TaxLayer is built for that. You upload your finished invoice as PDF — TaxLayer recognizes all fields automatically. You briefly review the extracted data, add the routing ID if needed, and download the finished XRechnung. No XML, no manual, no training needed.

What happens if my invoice is rejected by the public-sector client?

Rejections almost always stem from format errors: missing routing ID, wrong XRechnung profile, or invalid tax number. TaxLayer validates every invoice against the official KoSIT schemas before you download — typical rejection reasons are detected in advance and can be corrected.

Must XRechnung be submitted through a specific portal?

Yes, usually. For federal authorities, the ZRE (zre-e-rechnung.de) handles it. For state and municipal authorities, there are state-specific portals (e.g., OZG-RE). TaxLayer delivers the finished XRechnung XML file, which you then upload to the relevant portal. We guide you through the process on request.

Can I send the XRechnung via email to the authority?

That depends on the authority. Many clients accept XRechnung only through official entry portals (ZRE, OZG-RE). Some also allow email. When in doubt, ask your client which submission method is accepted.

Learn more about XRechnung?

Our blog explains XRechnung, ZRE portals, and routing IDs — in plain language.

XRechnung explained →E-invoicing mandate →