When using the platform, there are three submission channels available to invoice senders for invoices:

• Web-based data entry
• Uploading
• Email

For more information about the submission channels, see the OZG-RE technical terms of use.

As an additional transmission channel, the OZG-RE provides the option of sending invoices from the originating software through a transmission via the Peppol network. The submission of e-invoices via Peppol is essentially possible in two different ways:

1. Use of an existing Peppol service provider (chargeable).
2. Fee-based membership with OpenPeppol and the establishment of your own Peppol Access Point

To submit supporting documents or attachments with your invoice, they must be embedded in the invoice data file and should not be sent separately as an email attachment. Documents of the following file types may be embedded: PDF documents (PDF), Images (PNG, JPEG, JPG), Excel spreadsheets (XLSX), Support and OpenDocument spreadsheets (ODS) and Text files (CSV) as well as XML when using an extension.

You have various options for embedding documents depending on the way you create your invoices and which transmission method you use to submit them to the Online Access Act-compliant Invoice Submission Portal (OZG-RE). Please note that the embedding of supporting documents differs depending on whether the attachments are larger or smaller than 15 MB.

Create new invoice (via web submission)

If you create your electronic invoice manually (using the web submission form), you can manually add supporting documents of the accepted file types to the invoice. In the “Attachments” tab of the Web Entry, you can upload attachments up to 15 MB in size using drag & drop or manual selection. Once the invoice is submitted, the documents are directly embedded in the invoice.

To attach files larger than 15 MB to the invoice, please switch to the “References/Large Attachments” tab. There you can add attachments by reference with a total size of up to 200 MB.

Upload invoice file

You can submit your completed invoice in the XML format using the function “ Upload invoice file”. To attach supporting documents, you must embed them in the XML file encoded in Base64 before uploading your invoice. If you have questions, please contact your software provider regarding the options for embedding documents in electronic invoices.

In the “Large Attachments” administration menu of the OZG-RE, you also have the option to upload attachments with a total size of up to 200 MB and generate a corresponding link. This link can then generally be inserted into the invoice as a reference. Please note that when using the “Submit externally created invoice” function, the total size of all large attachments must not exceed 200 MB.

Transmit via email

You can submit your completed invoice using email. To attach supporting documents, you must embed them in the XML file encoded in Base64 before submitting your invoice.

For more information, contact your software provider to ask about options for embedding documents in electronic invoices.

In the “Large Attachments” administration menu of the OZG-RE, you also have the option to upload attachments with a total size of up to 200 MB and generate a corresponding link. This link can then generally be inserted into the invoice as a reference.

Transmit via Peppol

You can submit your completed invoice using Peppol. To attach supporting documents smaller than 100 MB, they must be Base64-encoded and embedded into the XML before transmitting the invoice.

For more information, contact your software provider to ask about options for embedding documents in electronic invoices.

In the “Large Attachments” administration menu of the OZG-RE, you also have the option to upload attachments with a total size of up to 200 MB and generate a corresponding link. This link can then generally be inserted into the invoice as a reference.

To the terms of use of the OZG-RE.

No. Invoices submitted via the OZG-RE cannot be recalled.

Users can track the current status of their invoice in the log view. If you have submitted an incorrect invoice by mistake, please contact the invoice recipient.

There are no time restrictions on the creation or submission of invoices via the OZG-RE. Maintenance work may result in a short period of unavailability at times however. Upcoming maintenance work will be announced in advance via a pop-up window.

Open the OZG-RE terms of use

If the company does not have software for viewing locally saved invoices in XML format, a solution can be purchased on the market or developed in house. No solutions can be recommended here.

For each invoice provided via the OZG-RE, the invoice recipient must cover the cost. The amount of this payment is specified in the administrative agreement to be signed.

When creating an electronic invoice (e-invoice), the invoice issuer has the option to give the invoice recipient a discount (reduced price) for early payment within a specified period of time.

Web submission:

If you submit e-invoices using the web submission form on the OZG-RE invoice submission portal, under the tab “Invoice data” you can select the button “Add discount” to add terms for discounts to your invoice.

Example: Payment is due within 30 days. For payment received within 10 days ( discount period), a 2% discount is given on the invoice amount due.

Upload:

Here you will find detailed instructions for including information about discounts when using the upload method for the OZG-RE:

Download document discount upload

Email:

If you use email to transmit your invoice, your completed e-invoice (XML file) must meet the same requirements for information about discounts as described in the paragraph on using the upload method (see “Upload”).

Peppol:

If you use Peppol to transmit your invoice, your completed e-invoice (XML file) must meet the same requirements for information about discounts as described in the paragraph on using the upload transmission method (see “Upload”).