The four files
These examples let you see an e-invoice from the inside, test software or show a colleague what an invoice XML looks like. Three are complete; the fourth has a deliberate flaw. To read one, download it, then drop it into our free invoice reader.
| File | Format | What it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| factur-x-imprimerie-du-canal.pdf | Factur-X, EN 16931 profile | Seeing a PDF that carries its own data |
| cii-lumen-hebergement.xml | CII | Reading a CII XML on its own |
| ubl-studio-bastide.xml | UBL | Comparing with the UBL syntax |
| cii-champ-manquant.xml | CII, incomplete | Testing a field check |
A Factur-X PDF
factur-x-imprimerie-du-canal.pdf
A one-page PDF/A-3 with the factur-x.xml file attached, EN 16931 profile. Imprimerie du Canal, a printer, invoices Camille Martin EI for brochures and business cards. Opened in a PDF reader, it looks like any other invoice.
Excerpt of the factur-x.xml file attached to the PDF. The highlighted line states the EN 16931 profile. Code 380 means an invoice, and 381 a credit note.
<rsm:ExchangedDocumentContext>
<ram:GuidelineSpecifiedDocumentContextParameter> <ram:ID>urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017</ram:ID>
</ram:GuidelineSpecifiedDocumentContextParameter></rsm:ExchangedDocumentContext><rsm:ExchangedDocument>
<ram:ID>F-2026-0412</ram:ID>
<ram:TypeCode>380</ram:TypeCode>
<ram:IssueDateTime>
<udt:DateTimeString format="102">20261006</udt:DateTimeString>
</ram:IssueDateTime></rsm:ExchangedDocument>In our reader, this file shows as “Factur-X (embedded CII XML)”, and its XML on its own as “CII”. The profiles are explained in our guide to the format.
An XML in the CII format
cii-lumen-hebergement.xml
The same kind of data, without a PDF around it. Lumen Hébergement, a web host, invoices Camille Martin EI for a month of shared hosting and a domain name, paid by direct debit. Opened as it is, the file is just a series of tags.
Excerpt of the seller and the totals. The schemeID 0002 marks a SIREN, the French company number, and 0009 a SIRET. TaxBasisTotalAmount is the total before VAT, GrandTotalAmount the total including VAT.
<ram:SellerTradeParty>
<ram:Name>Lumen Hébergement</ram:Name>
<ram:SpecifiedLegalOrganization>
<ram:ID schemeID="0002">222222222</ram:ID>
</ram:SpecifiedLegalOrganization></ram:SellerTradeParty><ram:SpecifiedTradeSettlementHeaderMonetarySummation>
<ram:TaxBasisTotalAmount>24.00</ram:TaxBasisTotalAmount>
<ram:TaxTotalAmount currencyID="EUR">4.80</ram:TaxTotalAmount>
<ram:GrandTotalAmount>28.80</ram:GrandTotalAmount>
<ram:DuePayableAmount>28.80</ram:DuePayableAmount></ram:SpecifiedTradeSettlementHeaderMonetarySummation>An XML in the UBL format
ubl-studio-bastide.xml
The same logic in the other syntax the French reform accepts. Studio Bastide, a design studio, invoices Menuiserie Arnaud, a joinery, for a visual identity and its social media versions, payable by bank transfer within 30 days.
Excerpt of the header and the totals. In UBL, dates are written YYYY-MM-DD and each amount carries its currency in the currencyID attribute.
<Invoice xmlns="urn:oasis:names:specification:ubl:schema:xsd:Invoice-2">
<cbc:ID>SB-2026-031</cbc:ID>
<cbc:IssueDate>2026-09-30</cbc:IssueDate>
<cbc:DueDate>2026-10-30</cbc:DueDate>
<cbc:InvoiceTypeCode>380</cbc:InvoiceTypeCode>
<cbc:DocumentCurrencyCode>EUR</cbc:DocumentCurrencyCode>
<cac:LegalMonetaryTotal>
<cbc:TaxExclusiveAmount currencyID="EUR">1750.00</cbc:TaxExclusiveAmount>
<cbc:TaxInclusiveAmount currencyID="EUR">2100.00</cbc:TaxInclusiveAmount>
<cbc:PayableAmount currencyID="EUR">2100.00</cbc:PayableAmount>
</cac:LegalMonetaryTotal>An invoice with a missing field
cii-champ-manquant.xml
A CII file deliberately missing the invoice number. Électro Morin, an electrician, invoices SCI Les Tilleuls, a property company, for renovating a fuse box. The file is for checking that a validation tool does spot a missing field.
The ram:ID element is missing from ExchangedDocument, where highlighted. The EN 16931 standard makes the invoice number mandatory, so this file doesn’t comply.
<rsm:ExchangedDocument> <!-- ram:ID missing, no invoice number -->
<ram:TypeCode>380</ram:TypeCode>
<ram:IssueDateTime>
<udt:DateTimeString format="102">20261012</udt:DateTimeString>
</ram:IssueDateTime></rsm:ExchangedDocument><ram:SellerTradeParty>
<ram:Name>Électro Morin</ram:Name></ram:SellerTradeParty>In our reader, the checklist shows “Invoice number, missing” and the six other fields present. The invoice stays readable, with a dash instead of the number.
What the reader shows for each file
The table gives the expected result for each file. The reader reads every file in your browser, without sending it, and keeps nothing once you close the tab.
| File | Detected format | Lines shown | Checklist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imprimerie du Canal’s Factur-X | Factur-X (embedded CII XML) | 2 | 7 of 7 fields present |
| Lumen Hébergement’s CII | CII | 2 | 7 of 7 fields present |
| Studio Bastide’s UBL | UBL | 2 | 7 of 7 fields present |
| Électro Morin’s incomplete CII | CII | 1 | 6 of 7, number missing |
The checklist only looks at whether seven fields are present: the number, the issue date, the seller, the totals before VAT, VAT and including VAT, and the currency. It has no official value and replaces neither a formal validation nor your accredited platform’s checks. For a check on its own, use Check an e-invoice.
The tags to know in an invoice XML
To read an XML by eye, you only need to know where to look. The table lists the paths our free reader reads, in each of the two syntaxes.
In CII, a date in format 102 is written YYYYMMDD, such as 20261006. The English reader shows it as Oct 6, 2026, and amounts as €1,248.00, while the XML writes them with a decimal point and no currency sign, such as 1248.00.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a Factur-X XML example?
Here. The PDF factur-x-imprimerie-du-canal.pdf contains a factur-x.xml file with the EN 16931 profile, which our free tool extracts in one click. The file cii-lumen-hebergement.xml is a good model too: the XML of a Factur-X is written in the CII syntax. Extract the XML from a Factur-X
Do you have a UBL invoice example?
Yes: ubl-studio-bastide.xml, a two-line UBL 2.1 invoice, payable by bank transfer within 30 days. Open it in our free reader to read it in plain view, or in a text editor to see its tags.
What does the XML structure of an invoice look like?
A series of nested tags: the header with the number and the dates, the seller and the buyer, the lines, then the totals before VAT, VAT and including VAT. The table of tags to know, above, gives the path to each piece of information in CII and in UBL.
Do these files comply with the standard?
The first three are designed to meet the EN 16931 standard, and the fourth breaks it on purpose. For your own files, only an official validator or your platform’s checks are authoritative, and our checklist only looks at seven fields.
Can I use them to test my software?
Yes, that’s what they’re for. The companies, amounts and identifiers are made up, and no file matches a real invoice.
How do I see the XML hidden in the example PDF?
Open the “Attachments” panel of Adobe Acrobat Reader, where factur-x.xml appears, or use our free tool. Extract the XML from a Factur-X
Where can I find official examples?
In the Factur-X specification package published by FNFE-MPE, which contains examples for each profile. The OASIS specifications for UBL and the UN/CEFACT ones for CII offer some too.
Does the reader keep the files I open in it?
No. The file is read in your browser, it goes through no server, and nothing is left of it when you close the tab.
Sources, checked on October 13, 2026: FNFE-MPE, Factur-X specification · FeRD, ZUGFeRD specification · OASIS, UBL specifications · UN/CEFACT · impots.gouv.fr, je découvre la facturation électronique
Updated on October 24, 2026 by the Clivio team. Found an error in a file? contact@clivio.app