The Thünen Institute is able to accept and process electronic invoices (e-invoices). Everything you need to know about electronic invoicing with us is described in the following. The necessary information will be enclosed with all new contracts effective immediately.
Starting 27 November 2020, it will be mandatory to submit invoices in electronic form. Exceptions to this rule are given in section 3 (3) of the E-Invoicing Ordinance (E-Rechnungsverordnung, ERechV), for example in case of direct contracts valued at up to €1,000, not including VAT.
We would like to ask you to make use of the possibility to submit electronic invoices. As an issuer of invoices, you can benefit from the advantages even before electronic invoicing becomes mandatory:
If you have questions about electronic invoicing for your existing contract with Thünen Institute, please contact the department listed in the contract document.
The Thünen Institute receives E-Invoices via the federal Central Invoice Submission Portal (ZRE). You can contact ZRE at xrechnung.bund.de.
In accordance with section 5 of the E-Invoicing Ordinance (and in addition to what is required by section 14 of the Value Added Tax Act (Umsatzsteuergesetz, UStG)), an electronic invoice must include at least the following information:
Information about invoice content
Please note the following for electronic invoicing with Thünen Institute:
Invoice element | Data field XRechnung standard | Information from Thünen Institute for suppliers of goods and services |
---|---|---|
Buyer reference | “Buyer reference” (BT-10) | “This information must be provided with every invoice.” “Please use the buyer reference provided in the contract document, to be used from the order document that is sent to you in the course of placing the order.” |
Purchase order number | “Purchase order reference” (BT-13) | “Please use the order reference provided in the contract document, to be used from the order document that is sent to you in the course of placing the order. Without it, the Thünen-Institute may reject your E-Invoice.”
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These rules do not apply to supporting documents which, according to other laws, must be sent in paper form: export or customs documentation, etc.
If you have questions about submitting E-Invoices via the ZRE, the following support is available:
Invoice issuers and invoice senders with questions about the ZRE may contact its support hotline, which is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 16:00 on +49 228 99681-10101.
For more information on the ZRE, please see the brochure Information for invoice issuers and the FAQs on e-invoicing on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community: e-rechnung-bund.de
Under the federal E-Invoicing Ordinance, public administration is required to accept electronic invoices for public contracts, and suppliers of goods and services for the federal administration are required to send electronic invoices. The E-Invoicing Ordinance also sets the deadlines, the transmission channels and the data standard as well as exceptions to electronic invoicing.
Link to the E-Invoicing Ordinance (in German): https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/downloads/DE/gesetztestexte/e-rechnungsverordnung.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3
For federal contracts, electronic invoicing will be required for goods and services starting 27 November 2020. Exceptions to this requirement are given in the Ordinance and are as follows: