E-invoicing: An overview of DATEV’s e-invoicing platform
This guide provides a clear overview of the e-invoicing platform, sets out the prices objectively and explains what the platform can and cannot do.
Introduction
The DATEV e-invoicing platform is a service that allows you to receive – and, in future, send – e-invoices. It is not the same as the programme you use to create invoices, nor is it the same as your document archive. We’ll help you work out whether and how the platform fits into your workflow.
We’d like to clear up two common misconceptions straight away, as they often cause confusion in practice.
Firstly: “The DATEV platform is completely free of charge.” That is not strictly true. Use is free until mid-2026; after that, a tiered pricing model applies, which we break down objectively below.
Secondly: “The inbox replaces DATEV Unternehmen Online and provides audit-proof archiving.” This is also incorrect. The inbox receives and forwards documents; audit-proof archiving continues to be handled via DATEV Unternehmen Online.
This article first distinguishes between the platform and the inbox, then explains receiving, sending, pricing and registration, and finally outlines the limitations and how the handover to us works.
Platform and mailbox – distinguishing between the terms
The most common pitfall is the confusion between two terms. They do not refer to the same thing.
The DATEV e-invoicing platform is the framework – the technical solution that enables the secure exchange of e-invoices. The DATEV e-invoicing mailbox is the central element within this platform through which invoices are actually received and sent.
Put simply: the platform is the house; the inbox is the letterbox inside it. When people talk about ‘the platform’, they usually mean the overall system; when they talk about ‘the inbox’, they mean the specific delivery channel.
| Term | What it is | Role |
|---|---|---|
| E-invoicing platform | Technical framework | enables the secure exchange |
| E-invoice inbox | A central element of this | receives and sends invoices |
What the inbox can do
The e-invoice mailbox is designed for receiving invoices and will be gradually expanded to include sending functionality. Receiving is already operational; sending will follow later.
Incoming e-invoices are scanned for viruses in the inbox and validated for compliance with the EN 16931 standard. XRechnung and ZUGFeRD data can be visualised in the inbox, i.e. displayed in a readable format. The invoices can then be automatically forwarded to DATEV Unternehmen Online.
For delivery, the platform relies on the established TRAFFIQX® and Peppol networks, supplemented by delivery via email. This enables many business partners to be reached securely.
Receiving invoices via the inbox is also available to companies that do not themselves have a DATEV Unternehmen Online account. However, for subsequent audit-proof archiving and processing in the accounts, the intended method is integration with DATEV Unternehmen Online.
Sending not available until mid-2026
Please note that the inbox will not offer this functionality in full until a later date. Sending e-invoices via the e-invoice inbox will be possible from mid-2026.
Until then, please use your invoicing software to send invoices. If you use DATEV Auftragswesen Next, you can create and send e-invoices via this software; an invoice sent via the platform will reach the recipient in their inbox, provided they are registered, have activated the inbox and you have entered their TRAFFIQX® ID in the DATEV software.
We will cover how to create e-invoices using Auftragswesen Next in a separate section:
An interface is also due to be available from mid-2026, allowing software from other providers to be integrated.
The facts about pricing
It is worth taking a closer look at the cost issue, as the blanket statement ‘free of charge’ is misleading. Until 30 June 2026, use of the service is free of charge for all customers. From 1 July 2026, a tiered pricing model will apply.
- Receipt: Receiving invoices via the mailbox is permanently free of charge, regardless of the transmission method.
- Sending from DATEV solutions: Sending invoices initiated from DATEV’s invoicing solutions – such as ‘Eigenorganisation’, ‘Kanzleimanagement basis’, ‘Auftragswesen next’, ‘Mittelstand’ or ‘E-Rechnungsschreibung’ – is free of charge.
- Sending from third-party systems or via upload: Invoices uploaded or sent from systems provided by other suppliers cost €0.50 per outgoing invoice, billed monthly.
- E-invoicing: The optional module for simple invoicing costs a flat fee of €5.00 per calendar year.
There are no set-up costs or basic fees; the total cost is based solely on usage volume. The mailbox can be cancelled at the end of each month.
“Completely free of charge” applies only until mid-2026. After that, receiving invoices will remain free of charge, but sending them will only be free via DATEV solutions; from third-party systems, it costs €0.50 per invoice. Which option is best for you depends on what you use to create invoices – we’ll sort that out together.
Registration via DATEV account only
There is one particular aspect of the registration process that often comes as a surprise. The e-invoicing platform cannot be used with the access credentials we provide.
Specifically, DATEV SmartLogin and DATEV SmartCard do not work for registration here. Instead, you need a DATEV account with password access, optionally with two-factor authentication via an authenticator app. The reason for this is that users are direct contractual partners of DATEV in this context.
You can either create a new DATEV account via the platform’s start link or log in with an existing one. Please also note: there is no dedicated customer support for the e-invoicing platform or e-invoicing services. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Where the limits lie
There are two important limitations to bear in mind so that the mailbox is not overestimated.
Firstly, the inbox does not replace audit-proof archiving. It receives, checks and forwards documents – GoBD-compliant storage is handled via DATEV Unternehmen Online.
Secondly, the inbox is not a fully-fledged invoicing programme. By default, it does not issue invoices; for this, there are the DATEV invoicing solutions or the optional e-invoicing service for €5 a year, although the scope of its functions is limited.
Do not rely on the inbox alone to fulfil your retention obligations. Without forwarding and archiving via DATEV Unternehmen Online, you will lack audit-proof storage. The inbox is the inbox; it is not the archive.
A future prospect that is not yet a current feature
In connection with the platform, DATEV mentions a future reporting procedure by the tax authorities to combat VAT fraud, which is intended to be implemented via the platform. This is explicitly a future prospect.
Automatic transmission of invoice data to the tax authorities is currently neither a requirement nor an active feature. A possible obligation to use a specific platform is also still a long way off. We will examine the merits of such a reporting system and the current status of the plans in a separate article:
Transfer to us
If the mailbox is connected to DATEV Unternehmen online, the handover is seamless. Incoming invoices are automatically forwarded and are available there for processing.
We post the documents and handle the tax processing; audit-proof storage is managed via Unternehmen Online.
Whether this platform is suitable for you or whether another method of receipt is a better fit depends on your software and your volume. We will make this decision together.
Common sources of error
- Confusing the platform with the mailbox: The terms are often used interchangeably. The platform is the framework; the mailbox is the delivery channel within it.
- Misunderstanding of ‘free of charge’: Use is generally assumed to be free. From mid-2026, only receipt will be free of charge; sending invoices from third-party systems will cost €0.50 per invoice.
- Assuming the inbox is an archive: The inbox is intended for storage. However, audit-proof archiving is handled via DATEV Unternehmen online.
- Attempting to log in with SmartLogin: The platform is accessed using SmartLogin or a SmartCard. Neither of these works here; a DATEV account with a password is required.
- Dispatch expected too soon: Dispatch via the mailbox is expected before mid-2026. Until then, dispatch will be handled via the invoicing software.
- Tax reporting interpreted as mandatory: The announced reporting procedure is currently regarded as a must. It is a forecast, not a current obligation.
How we work together
On the platform, you handle the set-up and receipt of data, whilst we handle the processing and provide advice on its appropriateness.
Your tasks:
- Create a DATEV account and activate the mailbox if required
- Receive incoming e-invoices via the inbox
- Use the connection to DATEV Unternehmen online
Our tasks:
- Assess whether the platform suits your workflow
- Post the documents and ensure audit-proof storage via DUO
- Providing support with set-up, pricing enquiries and registration, as there is no dedicated DATEV support
We will agree the exact breakdown with you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the platform and the inbox?
The e-invoice platform is the technical framework, whilst the e-invoice mailbox is the central element within it through which invoices are sent and received. Put simply: the platform is the house, the mailbox is the letterbox.
Is the DATEV e-invoicing platform free of charge?
Yes, until 30 June 2026. After that, receiving e-invoices will remain free of charge permanently, as will sending them from DATEV solutions; sending from third-party systems or via upload costs €0.50 per outgoing invoice. The optional e-invoicing service costs €5 per year.
Does the mailbox replace DATEV Unternehmen online?
No. The mailbox receives and forwards invoices. Audit-proof archiving and processing are handled via DATEV Unternehmen online.
Can I access the platform using SmartLogin?
No. SmartLogin and SmartCard do not work here. You need a DATEV account with a password, optionally with an authenticator as a second factor.
When will I be able to send invoices via the inbox?
Sending invoices via the e-invoice mailbox will be possible from mid-2026. Until then, please send them via your invoicing software, such as Auftragswesen next.
Will my invoice data be reported to the tax office via the platform?
Not at present. DATEV has mentioned a future reporting procedure as a prospect. Automatic reporting is currently neither mandatory nor an active feature; we are addressing this issue separately. \[Link zu einem Hilfsartikel]
Do I even need the platform?
Not necessarily. In principle, an email inbox is sufficient for receiving invoices. Whether the platform offers you any benefits depends on your software and your volume – we’ll sort that out together. \[Link zu einem Hilfsartikel]
Is there customer support for the platform?
There is no dedicated DATEV customer support for the e-invoicing platform or e-invoicing. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Legal notice
This article provides an overview and is not a substitute for individual advice. The scope of functions, prices, availability dates and registration procedures for the DATEV e-invoicing platform are subject to change; the current status at DATEV and the legal situation shall prevail.
If you have any questions about whether the platform is suitable for you, please contact us directly.
As at: June 2026