How to Register a Peppol ID in Germany: E-Invoice Step-by-Step Guide
Table of Contents
If your business needs to send or receive electronic invoices through the Peppol network, you need a Peppol ID. Without one, your organization is invisible to every other participant on the network. This guide walks you through the entire Peppol ID registration process in four clear steps.
Quick answer: A Peppol ID is your unique address on the Peppol network, written as a scheme prefix plus an identifier (for example, 9930:DE123456789 for a German VAT number, or 0204 plus a Leitweg-ID for a public authority). You cannot register directly with OpenPeppol. You register through a certified access point provider, which usually takes 3 to 10 business days. The Peppol ID itself is free; you pay for the access point service.
Key Takeaways
- A Peppol ID is your unique address on the Peppol network, functioning like an email address for e-invoices.
- Registration always goes through a certified Access Point provider, never directly through OpenPeppol.
- The entire process typically takes 3 to 10 business days.
- Costs consist of a setup fee (often waived) plus monthly service fees.
What Is a Peppol ID?
A Peppol ID (also called a Peppol Participant Identifier or Peppol Participant ID) is the unique identifier that represents your organization on the Peppol network. It works like a postal address.
Every organization that participates in the Peppol network is registered through its Peppol ID in the SMP (Service Metadata Publisher). The SMP is a public directory where other network participants can look up whether your company is reachable and through which Access Point.
A Peppol ID is particularly relevant for businesses that:
- Send e-invoices to public sector bodies in Germany (using XRechnung)
- Participate in cross-border electronic invoicing within the EU
- Want to prepare for Germany's e-invoicing obligation
Structure of a Peppol ID
[Scheme ID]:[Participant Identifier]Example
0204:991-12345-67| Component | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Scheme ID | A numeric code defining the type of identifier | 0204 = Leitweg-ID |
| Participant Identifier | The actual identifier of your organization | 991-12345-67 |
Common Scheme IDs Used in Germany
| Scheme ID | Identifier Type | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 0204 | Leitweg-ID | German public sector entities |
| 9930 | German VAT ID (USt-IdNr) | German businesses with a VAT ID |
| 0088 | GLN (EAN) | Organizations with a Global Location Number |
| 0060 | DUNS Number | Organizations with a Dun & Bradstreet identifier |
Note: For most German businesses in B2B scenarios, Scheme ID 9930 is the most common choice.How to Register a Peppol ID: 4-Step Process
Step 1: Choose an Access Point Provider
You cannot register a Peppol ID directly with OpenPeppol. Registration always goes through a certified Peppol Access Point provider.
When evaluating providers, consider:
- Certification: Is the provider officially registered with OpenPeppol?
- Document formats: Does the provider support XRechnung, Peppol BIS Billing 3.0?
- Pricing model: Setup fees, monthly fixed costs, or per-transaction charges?
- Integration: Does the provider offer APIs or ERP integrations?
- Support: Available in your preferred language?
Step 2: Provide Your Business Details
- Company name (as registered in the commercial register)
- VAT identification number (USt-IdNr)
- Business address
- Contact person and contact details
- Preferred Scheme ID (typically 9930 for VAT ID or 0204 for Leitweg-ID)
- Leitweg-ID, if applicable
Step 3: Access Point Registers Your Peppol ID in the SMP
- The provider creates an SMP entry for your Peppol ID.
- The SMP entry specifies which document types you can receive.
- The entry is published in the SML (Service Metadata Locator) operated by OpenPeppol.
This step typically takes 1 to 5 business days.
Step 4: Test Connectivity
- Send a test invoice
- Receive a test invoice
- Format validation
Only once both directions work without errors is your Peppol ID ready for production use.
Access Point Providers in Germany
| Provider | XRechnung | ERP Integration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complyance | Yes | API, SAP, DATEV | Specialized in German e-invoicing compliance |
| Basware | Yes | SAP, Oracle | Enterprise focus, global coverage |
| Ecosio | Yes | SAP, MS Dynamics | Strong ERP integration |
| Pagero | Yes | SAP, Oracle, Infor | Part of Thomson Reuters |
| Storecove | Yes | API-first | Developer-friendly |
| Traffiqx | Yes | SAP, DATEV | Focus on German mid-market |
Recommendation: For businesses focused on Germany, Complyance offers a free tier covering 100 invoices per month.
Costs of a Peppol ID
| Cost Type | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | EUR 0 to 500 (one-time) | Many providers waive the setup fee |
| Monthly base fee | EUR 30 to 200/month | Depends on service scope and transaction volume |
| Transaction costs | EUR 0.10 to 0.50 per document | Sometimes included in the monthly fee |
Important: The Peppol ID itself is free of charge. What you pay for is the service of the Access Point provider.
Small businesses with low invoice volumes can find entry-level plans starting at around EUR 30 per month.
Peppol ID vs. Leitweg-ID
| Criterion | Peppol ID | Leitweg-ID |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Address on the Peppol network | Routing identifier for German public sector |
| Issued by | Access Point provider | The responsible government authority |
| Format | Scheme ID + identifier | Coarse/fine addressing + check digit |
| Scope | International (entire Peppol network) | National (Germany only) |
| Usable as Peppol ID? | Yes | Yes, with Scheme ID 0204 |
| Mandatory? | Voluntary | Required for invoices to German federal authorities |
Key point: A Leitweg-ID can be used as a Peppol ID (with Scheme ID 0204). The reverse is not true.Next Steps
Ready to register your Peppol ID and join the Peppol network? Choose a certified access point provider, prepare your business documentation, and begin the registration process.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No. Registration is handled exclusively through a certified Access Point provider.
The full process typically takes 3 to 10 business days. The purely technical registration in the SMP often requires only 1 to 2 business days.
Not necessarily. XRechnung invoices can also be transmitted through other channels (e.g., the ZRE portal or email). However, Peppol is the preferred transmission channel.
Yes. Your Peppol ID remains the same; the new provider updates the SMP entry. Plan for approximately 5 to 10 business days.
Your SMP entry will be deleted. Arrange a clean transition to a new provider before cancelling.
Yes. The terms are used interchangeably.
About the Author
Swathy
Content Marketer
I’m a Content Marketer at Complyance, focused on e-invoicing. Over the years, I’ve created a wide range of content, including blog posts, whitepapers, and product guides, which have supported Complyance’s growth across markets such as the UAE and EU regions. My goal is to deliver content that is comprehensive, clear, accurate, and easy to understand, no matter how complex the topic.
