Do I need the Leitweg-ID for invoices to businesses too?

No, it applies to public contracting authorities. Businesses usually use their own reference there, such as the order number.

What happens with a wrong Leitweg-ID?

The portal rejects the invoice or does not forward it. You then have to send it again, corrected.

Does every department have its own Leitweg-ID?

Often yes, when the authority uses fine addressing. Always use exactly the ID you were given.

Leitweg-ID explained: structure, origin, entry

Anyone sending an e-invoice to a public authority needs its Leitweg-ID. It makes sure the invoice reaches the right office automatically.

Updated on 28 October 2026

What the Leitweg-ID is for

Public contracting authorities in Germany are divided thousands of times: federal, state, district, municipality, office. The Leitweg-ID is the address the receiving portal uses to assign the invoice to the right place. Without it the invoice is rejected or goes nowhere.

How it is built

A Leitweg-ID has up to three parts separated by hyphens:

Coarse address: a numeric code that assigns the authority to a level and an area.
Fine address (optional): a more precise assignment inside the authority, up to 30 characters.
Check digits: two digits that allow typing errors to be detected.

Example

A well-known pattern from the XRechnung documents looks like this: 04011000-12345-34. You do not make up real Leitweg-IDs yourself; they are assigned by the authority.

Where you get it

The contracting authority tells you the Leitweg-ID, usually in the order, the contract or the purchase order. Ask for it before the first invoice. Guessing or taking one from another authority leads to rejections.

Where it goes in the invoice

In the XRechnung the Leitweg-ID belongs in the buyer reference field (BT-10). If it is missing, validators typically report an error, for example the note that the buyer reference must be provided. Check your file before sending.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the Leitweg-ID for invoices to businesses too?: No, it applies to public contracting authorities. Businesses usually use their own reference there, such as the order number.
What happens with a wrong Leitweg-ID?: The portal rejects the invoice or does not forward it. You then have to send it again, corrected.
Does every department have its own Leitweg-ID?: Often yes, when the authority uses fine addressing. Always use exactly the ID you were given.

Try it now

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These guides do not replace tax or legal advice. For questions about your own case please ask your tax adviser.