Validate Factur-X — including the French rules

Check Factur-X invoices (PDF or XML) against EN 16931 and the French réforme requirements — SIREN, SIRET, VAT. No upload.

Drop your invoice here
XRechnung (XML), ZUGFeRD / Factur-X (PDF or XML)
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Most common errors

What is Factur-X?

Factur-X is the Franco-German standard for hybrid e-invoices: a PDF/A-3 with embedded CII XML, developed by FNFE-MPE (France) and FeRD (Germany). Technically identical to ZUGFeRD 2.x, Factur-X is one of the core formats (“socle”) of the French e-invoicing réforme — alongside UBL and CII.

The réforme: dates that matter

France requires every company to receive e-invoices from September 1, 2026; large and mid-size companies must issue from the same date, small companies follow in 2027. Unlike Germany, exchange runs through accredited platforms (PDP) — formal correctness decides whether an invoice is accepted at all.

What France requires on top

Beyond EN 16931, the réforme demands French identifiers: the seller’s SIREN/SIRET, from 09/2026 the buyer’s SIREN, and consistent VAT numbers (FR + 2 check characters + SIREN). Billhorse implements exactly these checks (BH-FR-01 through BH-FR-05) — with explainer pages in French, German and English.

For software makers

If your product has customers in France, Factur-X is not optional. The browser validator is the quick check; the developer API brings the same validation into your pipeline — including ?lang=fr, so your French end users see error messages in their language.

Frequently asked questions

What is the timeline of the French réforme?

From September 1, 2026, every French company must be able to receive e-invoices; large and mid-size companies must also issue from that date. Small companies (PME/TPE) follow on September 1, 2027. Exchange happens through accredited platforms (PDP).

Does the validator check the French mandatory fields?

Yes — for invoices from French sellers it checks SIREN/SIRET (format and consistency), the VAT number format (FR + 2 characters + SIREN) and, from 09/2026, the buyer SIREN. Rules BH-FR-01 through BH-FR-05 each have their own explainer page.

Is Factur-X the same as ZUGFeRD?

Yes — since ZUGFeRD 2.0 both are technically identical: a PDF/A-3 with embedded CII XML. A correctly generated Factur-X works in both countries, which is exactly why Billhorse covers both rule sets.

Is my file uploaded?

No. Extraction and validation run as WebAssembly entirely in your browser — safe to use with real invoice data.

Validating is the start — the API does the rest

Validation and parsing as a developer API: same engine, normalized JSON, messages in three languages. Self-hosted available.

Explore the API