Terms of use of the Federal Government's Central Invoice Submission Portal (CISP)

Technical details

Last updated: 5 June 2020

File size restrictions

General information

Depending on the input channel (transmission method) used, restrictions apply to the file size of electronic invoices and to the number and size of additional documents submitted. The invoice will be processed if the permitted file size is not exceeded.

Web submission

Additional documents sent with an invoice via web submission may not exceed a total file size of 11 MB. The number of additional documents is limited to 200.

Upload

The file size of invoices submitted using the upload method, including embedded additional documents, may not exceed 15 MB. The number of additional documents is limited to 200.

E-mail

The file size of electronic invoices submitted via e-mail (xrechnung@portal.bund.de for the production environment; ref.xrechnung@portal.bund.de for the test environment) may not exceed 10 MB, including additional documents. The number of additional documents is limited to 200. It should also be noted that any text entries in the e-mail will not be taken into account.

Please note: Each e-mail (sent to xrechnung@portal.bund.de for the production environment; ref.xrechnung@portal.bund.de for the test environment) may only include one invoice and its embedded additional documents. E-mails containing more than one invoice will be deleted.

De-Mail

The file size of electronic invoices submitted via De-Mail (xrechnung@portal-bund.de-mail.de for the production environment; ref.xrechnung@itzbund.de-mail.de for the test environment) may not exceed 10 MB, including additional documents. The number of additional documents is limited to 200. It should also be noted that any text entries in the De-Mail will not be taken into account.

Please note: Each De-Mail (sent to xrechnung@portal-bund.de-mail.de for the production environment; ref.xrechnung@itzbund.de-mail.de for the test environment) may only include one invoice and its embedded additional documents. De-Mails containing more than one invoice will be deleted.

PEPPOL web service

The file size of electronic invoices submitted using the PEPPOL web service may not exceed 15 MB, including additional documents. The number of additional documents is limited to 200.

Valid file formats for additional documents

Additional documents can be embedded in electronic invoices in the following file formats:

The invoice sender should take into account any technical restrictions on the part of the invoice recipient. For instance, security authorities may only receive attachments in PDF/A format. The invoice sender should ask the invoice recipient whether any such restrictions apply, and if so which.

Technical requirements to be met by the user

Web submission / upload

To use the CISP web submission or upload methods, the user must have internet access as well as the necessary software and hardware to display websites.

PEPPOL web service

There are three different ways to submit e-invoices using PEPPOL:

To use the CISP with the PEPPOL web service, the user must have internet access as well as software and hardware that meet the interface specification.

Devices

The web interface is designed to be displayed on desktops or laptops.

Browser

The web interface is designed for display in the following browsers:

JavaScript and a component for displaying PDF documents must be activated in the browser used.

Image Resolution

The web interface is designed for a maximum resolution of 1280px (width).

Accessibility

The web interface has been designed in accordance with the Ordinance on Accessible Information Technology 2.0 (Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik- Verordnung, BITV 2.0) and EU Directive 2016/2102.