E-Invoicing
Leitweg-ID
Definition
The Leitweg-ID is a unique routing identifier used by German public sector buyers to receive electronic invoices. It typically consists of a combination of an authority code, optional subdivisions, and a check digit, e.g. `04011000-1234512345-06`. The Leitweg-ID is provided in the XRechnung field BT-10 (Buyer Reference) and ensures that an invoice is correctly delivered and processed within an authority.
Background & context
The Leitweg-ID is the addressing and routing instrument for electronic invoices to the German public administration. It is assigned by the respective contracting authority and communicated to the invoicing party — typically in the order, the contract or the procurement notice. Structurally, a Leitweg-ID consists of three hyphen-separated parts: a coarse address (the authority code, 2 to 12 digits), an optional fine address (up to 30 alphanumeric characters for internal subdivisions) and a two-digit check number. A complete example is `04011000-1234512345-06`. In the XRechnung, the Leitweg-ID is placed in Business Term BT-10 (Buyer Reference / BuyerReference). The German business rule BR-DE-15 requires BT-10 to be filled in every XRechnung; the KoSIT validator does not check the Leitweg-ID's format or check number. Without a correct Leitweg-ID, the receiving platform (for the federal government, OZG-RE) cannot route the invoice to the responsible organisational unit.
In practice — a worked example
A contractor receives the Leitweg-ID `04011000-1234512345-06` from a state authority. In the UBL XRechnung it enters it unchanged into `<cbc:BuyerReference>04011000-1234512345-06</cbc:BuyerReference>`. The receiving platform routes the invoice by this ID. If the ID is truncated (e.g. the check digit omitted) or padded with spaces, the file still passes KoSIT validation, because BR-DE-15 only checks that BT-10 is filled; the platform, however, cannot assign the invoice to a receiving unit, even if all other fields are correct.
Common mistakes
- •Do not confuse the Leitweg-ID with the order number (BT-13) — it belongs exclusively in BT-10 (BuyerReference).
- •Never truncate, reformat, or pad the ID with spaces/special characters; the check digit must be preserved. The validator will not notice (BR-DE-15 only checks that BT-10 is filled), but delivery fails anyway.
- •A Leitweg-ID applies per receiving unit — with multiple authorities or sub-units, the specifically assigned ID must be used each time.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get the Leitweg-ID?
The Leitweg-ID is assigned by the invoice recipient (the authority) and communicated to you — usually in the order, the contract or the tender documents. You cannot generate it yourself.
Which field does the Leitweg-ID go in?
Into Business Term BT-10 (Buyer Reference), in UBL the element cbc:BuyerReference. It is mandatory there for XRechnung invoices to public buyers.
What does the last digit mean?
The two-digit final part is a check number calculated with Modulo 97-10 (ISO/IEC 7064), which makes typos in the ID detectable. The KoSIT validator does not recompute it, so check the ID beforehand, for example with a Leitweg-ID validator.