E-invoicing in Germany

The e-invoicing obligation in Germany applies to all businesses issuing or receiving invoices in the B2B sector. Established under the Growth Opportunities Act (Wachstumschancengesetz), the law mandates a gradual shift from paper and PDF invoices to structured electronic formats.

Key deadlines:

• January 1, 2025: All businesses must be able to receive e-invoices.
• January 1, 2027: Businesses with annual turnover above €800,000 must issue e-invoices.
• January 1, 2028: E-invoicing becomes mandatory for all businesses in Germany.

Paper and PDF invoices will soon be phased out. Companies that prepare early not only ensure compliance but also gain efficiency, reduce errors, and improve cash flow through automation.

E-invoicing is a key driver of digital transformation, delivering significant advantages for businesses. By enabling invoices to be processed quickly, accurately, and securely, it reduces manual handling, minimizes errors, and shortens payment cycles—saving time and money while improving liquidity planning.

Equally important is compliance. Automated e-invoicing ensures that invoice content and format meet legal requirements, simplifying tax compliance and reducing risk. Businesses can operate with confidence, knowing their invoicing processes are accurate, secure, and aligned with regulations in Germany and beyond.

For many businesses, the biggest challenge is technical implementation.
Not all ERP and accounting systems are equipped to handle formats like XRechnung, ZUGFeRD, or connectivity via Peppol. Companies operating internationally face the added complexity of managing multiple invoice standards across different countries.

Integrating suppliers and customers can also be difficult. When partners use different systems, incompatibilities often lead to manual adjustments—eroding the efficiency gains digital invoicing promises.

ONESOURCE Pagero solves these challenges effortlessly. Our platform automatically converts all invoice formats, ensuring smooth interoperability without requiring you to manage technical details.

ONESOURCE Pagero enables businesses to receive and send legally compliant e-invoices without complicated IT change-overs.

• Automatic conversion to legally required formats such as XRechnung, ZUGFeRD or Peppol – regardless of the original format.
• Seamless integration with existing ERP and accounting systems such as SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle and DATEV.
• Global compliance – for businesses whose billing not only needs to comply with German law, but also that of other countries.

Unlike many e-invoicing solutions that focus solely on either sending or receiving invoices, ONESOURCE Pagero delivers a complete, end-to-end approach. Our open, network-based platform enables businesses to manage both Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable processes seamlessly, ensuring full compliance and efficiency across all transactions.

With global connectivity at its core, ONESOURCE Pagero automatically processes invoices and integrates suppliers and customers worldwide—removing barriers caused by incompatible systems.

Real-time validation ensures that errors are detected and corrected before invoices move forward, reducing delays and accelerating payment cycles. This not only improves cash flow but also minimizes risk and manual intervention, giving businesses a scalable, future-ready solution for e-invoicing and beyond.

ONESOURCE Pagero is straightforward to implement and can be done in a few weeks, depending on the size of the business and requirements.

With the right involvement of all relevant stakeholders and optimum technical conditions, smaller projects can be turned around within just a few weeks, and larger or global rollouts usually within a few months.

A key benefit: Business partners do not have to convert. Pagero enables existing systems to be integrated automatically so invoices can be processed directly and without additional effort.

ONESOURCE Pagero is an enterprise-ready solution specifically designed for large businesses with complex billing and compliance requirements.

• Individual pricing: The costs depend on the size of the company, invoice volume and any specific requirements. Thomson Reuters offers tailored solutions for multinationals looking to standardize their billing processes worldwide.
• Scalable billing: Businesses pay for the functions they use and the volume of invoices processed. The pricing structure takes into account the compliance requirements in different countries, integrations into ERP systems and additional services such as reporting and automation.
• Long-term savings: Businesses that choose ONESOURCE Pagero benefit not only from full compliance security, but also from significant savings through automated billing processes. Operating costs can be significantly reduced thanks to faster payment cycles, lower error rates, and the elimination of manual processing.

Since every business has individual requirements, we recommend a personal consultation to determine the right solution and a specific cost structure.