UPDATE: Forum elektronische Rechnung Deutschland (FeRD) presents new PDF A/3-XML data model at CeBIT!

RECTIFICATION: Not VeR, but FeRD is the organisation that presents new PDF A/3-XML data model at CeBIT!

Forum elektronische Rechnung Deutschland (FeRD)  is the primary author for coming up with a new data model used in the exchange of electronic invoices, called ZUGFeRD. FeRD stands for “Forum elektronische Rechnung Deutschland”, and will present the ZUGFeRD at CeBIT 2013.

Dr. Haug, Federla Ministry of Economics and Technology explained what ZUG stands for: “On the Europian level you will find: MUG Message User Guideline. ZUG stands for Zentrale (central) User Guideline. Its a play with words. It sounds in German like cart horse. ZUGFerd should be the cart horse to pull eInvoice.”

ZUGFerD in more detail

• The ZUGFeRD standard describes a document and data format for the exchange of electronic invoices.
• In its basis it is a hybrid approach, in which a visual representation is based on PDF/A-3 document, while all the billing data file is embedded in the document in XML format.
• This combination and image (PDF document) and structured data (XML) is said to be the future of simplified accounting, electronic invoice exchange and automated processing.
• ZUGFeRD is based on the semantic data model of Core Cross-Industry Invoice (CII Core) of UN/CEFACT, the ISO standard 19005-3:2012 (PDF/A-3) and the specified at European level “Message User Guidelines” ( MUG). Data that needs to be specified from the perspective of the sales tax law, are provided as required, other data necessary to audit from the perspective of the receiver is necessary, though optional.

Dr. Philipp Rösler (Federal Minister of Economics and Technology), and Hans-Peter Friedrich (the interior minister) will present the new data model on 5 March 2013 at CeBIT .

In mid November 2012 Dr. Rösler already commented: “The new standard is an important step towards less bureaucracy. It relieves the business relationship between the companies and the authorities. The cost of the bill without paper will fall significantly in the future, which also benefits consumers. The fact that these people have developed this new benchmark and have even agreed upon, show that voluntary solutions and commitments can be a fruitful way.”