BugWP logo BugWP
Back to Community
Home / Community / Plugin → Pdf invoices & packing slips for woocommerce

Understanding e-Invoice Support in PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce

18 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Pdf invoices & packing slips for woocommerce

Content

Many WooCommerce store owners, particularly those in the European Union, are facing new legal mandates for electronic invoicing (e-invoicing). This has led to a common question: does the free 'PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce' plugin support the required formats like ZUGFeRD, XRechnung, Peppol, or Spain's VeriFactu?

This guide explains the plugin's current capabilities and the common solutions for store owners who need to comply with these new regulations.

The Core Issue: e-Invoicing Standards Are Evolving

Governments are increasingly requiring businesses to generate invoices in specific electronic data formats, not just PDFs. These formats, such as Germany's ZUGFeRD or the EU's Peppol network, allow for automated processing of invoice data by tax authorities. A standard PDF invoice, while human-readable, often does not meet these technical data requirements.

The free version of the 'PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce' plugin provides a foundational feature for electronic invoicing: UBL (Universal Business Language) 2.1 output. This is a widely used XML-based standard for e-invoicing. However, as noted in user reports, the provided UBL document may not be pre-configured for every country's specific implementation, such as the ZUGFeRD profile which requires specific XML elements like <rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice>.

Common Solutions and Workflows

Based on community discussions, here are the most common approaches to achieving e-invoice compliance:

  1. Check the Built-in UBL Output: The first step is to explore the plugin's built-in UBL functionality. You can find this under WooCommerce > PDF Invoices > Documents > Invoice > UBL. Enable it and review the generated XML file. For some regions, this standard UBL output may be sufficient or can be adapted.
  2. Investigate Official Add-ons: The team behind the plugin has developed specific solutions for certain regulations. For example, to comply with Spain's VeriFactu system, they offer a separate plugin called 'FactuPress' which works as an add-on to handle the transmission of invoices to the tax agency.
  3. Monitor the Development Roadmap: The plugin's developers have indicated that expanding support for European e-invoicing standards like XRechnung and ZUGFeRD is on their roadmap for investigation. They use their GitHub repository to track feature requests, such as one for Peppol integration.
  4. Consult a Developer for Customization: If your required standard is not yet supported, a common solution mentioned in the forums is to use custom code. The plugin's hooks and filters can be used to modify the PDF output or the UBL XML data structure to meet specific requirements. This approach, however, requires advanced technical skill.

Key Takeaways

  • The free plugin includes a UBL 2.1 document, which is a strong foundation for e-invoicing but may need customization for specific country profiles.
  • Support for major new standards like ZUGFeRD and Peppol is under consideration but not yet fully implemented in the free version.
  • For specific country requirements like Spain's VeriFactu, a dedicated add-on plugin ('FactuPress') is available.
  • Always verify the output of any electronic invoice format with your accountant or local tax authority to ensure it meets all legal requirements before relying on it for compliance.

Related Support Threads Support