In our third blog post of this series, you'll discover everything you need to know about the "Leitweg-ID" – the centrepiece of the German B2G E-invoicing system. From its purpose and structure to its integration with Peppol – explore the pivotal role of the Leitweg-ID in the German E-invoicing landscape!
As highlighted in our preceding blog post, the “Leitweg-ID”, a buyer reference or routing ID identifying the invoice recipient, stands as a crucial (and mandatory) component within Germany’s B2G e-invoicing framework in general, and the XRechnung in particular. Considering the importance of this element, let’s explore it in detail.
What is the purpose of the Leitweg-ID?
At its core, the Leitweg-ID serves as a buyer reference or routing identifier, distinguishing and directing electronic invoices to their respective recipients within the German federal administration and beyond.
Unique addressing using the routing ID enables the invoice to be forwarded into the invoice approval systems set up within the connected administrative units.
The Leitweg-ID is specified in the standard XRechnung invoice in the field “Buyer reference” (BT-10) and must be transmitted as mandatory information on every e-invoice.
Where can I find my customer's Leitweg-ID?
Accessing the Leitweg-ID requires proactive communication between the invoice recipient and sender. As there is currently no nationwide centralised database, recipients provide the necessary routing ID (e.g., at the time of placing the order). This ensures accurate and efficient invoice transmission.
An invoice recipient in the Federal Administration typically has at least one Leitweg-ID. However, multiple routing IDs may be used per authority or office as needed. Specifying the appropriate buyer reference ensures that the invoice is forwarded directly to the responsible budget manager within authorities or offices that have multiple buyer references.
As you can see, using the buyer reference specified in the order for invoicing is essential. If you have any questions about the buyer reference of your order, please contact the invoice recipient directly.
What insights does the structure of the Leitweg-ID offer?
Comprising three distinct sections, the Leitweg-ID encompasses fundamental and optional elements, each contributing to its unique composition. From basic address to check digit, understanding its structural dynamics is key to effective implementation. Let's delve deeper into the structural insights of the Leitweg-ID to gain a comprehensive understanding of its composition and significance.
As mentioned, it is made up of three parts, the "Grobadressierung" or basic address, the "Feinadressierung" or specific address, and the "Prüfziffer" or check digit (checksum calculated from the preceding digits). These are separated by a separator corresponding to the hyphen-minus "-" (or "U+002" in Unicode).
Both the basic address and check digits are mandatory components, whereas the specific address is optional and subject to assignment by federal and state governments according to their own systems.
Navigating the complexity of the Leitweg-ID
With variable digit lengths and optional addressing components, the Leitweg-ID exhibits a nuanced architecture. Understanding its intricacies requires a thorough understanding of its diverse components.
Of the three distinct sections, the basic address can contain a minimum of 2 digits and a maximum of 12 digits, while the specific address has no minimum requirement and can have up to 30 digits. This variability results in a routing ID with a minimum length of 5 digits and a maximum length of 46 digits, including the mandatory and optional components, as well as the hyphen-minus separator.
In the basic address, the first two digits denote the code number of the federal state (01-16) or the federal government (99). By examining the first three digits, one can determine whether the invoice recipient is reachable via ZRE (991), OZG-RE (992) or another solution (993). This distinction is crucial for identifying the appropriate portal through which to submit invoices.
For further clarification, or to refresh your memory on the subject if needed, refer to our previous blog post detailing the various portals!
The specific address, separated from the basic address by a hyphen-minus sign, can consist of up to 30 alphanumeric characters. Unlike the basic address, the specific address is not subject to any general specification and can be tailored by the federal government or federal states according to their individual systems.
The Leitweg-ID concludes with a hyphen-minus separator and a two-digit check digit, enabling the recognition of syntactical errors within the routing ID. The check digit, calculated from the basic and specific address components, remains unchanged throughout the process.
How does the Leitweg-ID fit into Peppol?
Many German authorities use the PEPPOL network for EN16931-compliant invoice receipt. In this context, the Leitweg-ID often serves a dual purpose, acting as both the recipient address and the PEPPOL participant ID.
To this end, the Coordination Office for IT Standards (KoSIT), responsible for maintaining the XRechnung standard and its extension on behalf of the IT Planning Council, has included the prefix 0204 to the International Code Designator (ICD) list to identify the Leitweg-ID.
In our next blog post, we will shed light on the role of PEPPOL with B2G E-Invoicing in Germany.
We hope that this insight into the Leitweg-ID has been informative. For more insights into the role of Leitweg-ID in e-invoicing, please visit the Federal Administration's dedicated e-invoicing website: https://en.e-rechnung-bund.de/e-invoicing-faq/buyer-reference. Look out for our next post in this series, where we will explain where and how Peppol fits into the German B2G e-invoicing landscape.
