GiroCode on Invoices – Complete Guide & PDF Generator

Why Use GiroCode on Invoices?

Every invoice you send without a GiroCode forces your client to manually type your IBAN, the exact amount and the payment reference – each of those characters is an opportunity for a typo. According to studies by European banking associations, around 1 in 20 manual IBAN entries contains at least one error.

Statistics: How long does an average bank transfer take?

Invoices without a payment QR code are paid on average 3–5 days later than invoices with a QR code
The average invoice-to-payment cycle in Germany is 14–21 days for invoices without scan-to-pay
With GiroCode, clients who scan immediately pay within 1–3 days of receiving the invoice
Late payment rates drop by up to 30% when invoices include a GiroCode

Benefits for invoice senders

Faster cash flow: Earlier payments improve liquidity
Fewer errors: No mistyped IBANs or wrong amounts
Less chasing: Fewer follow-up calls and emails about payment status
Automatic reconciliation: Pre-filled payment reference enables automatic invoice matching
Professional image: Positions you as a modern, tech-forward business
No additional cost: Unlike payment processors, GiroCode incurs no per-transaction fees

Benefits for payers (customers)

Fast and convenient: Scan, verify, confirm – done in under 30 seconds
Error-free: No manual data entry, no risk of typos
Works with any bank: All major German banking apps support GiroCode scanning
No third-party account needed: Unlike PayPal, no additional registration required

Legal Requirements for Invoices (EU/Germany)

A GiroCode is a payment convenience feature – it does not change or replace the legal requirements for invoices. German VAT law and the EU VAT Directive specify which information must appear on every invoice:

Full name and address of both the supplier and the customer
VAT identification number (USt-IdNr.) of the supplier
Invoice date
Consecutive invoice number – must be unique and sequential
Quantity and description of the goods or services provided
Date of supply or service (if different from invoice date)
Net amount per line item and total
Applicable VAT rate(s) and VAT amount
Gross amount (total including VAT)
Bank details (IBAN, optionally BIC) for payment
Payment terms (payment deadline)

The GiroCode encodes the bank details in machine-readable form as a convenience. The same information should also appear in human-readable form on the invoice.

Small business exemption (Kleinunternehmerregelung)

In Germany, businesses whose annual turnover is below EUR 22,000 can apply for the small business exemption under § 19 UStG. Under this scheme, you do not charge VAT, and your invoices must include the following disclaimer:

“Pursuant to § 19 UStG (small business regulation), this invoice does not include VAT.”

GiroCodes work identically for small business invoices.

Where to Place the GiroCode on an Invoice

Bottom right (recommended)

The bottom-right corner of the invoice is the most universally recognised and expected location for a GiroCode. This placement mirrors the position of traditional payment slips in Germany and Austria.

The GiroCode should be placed near the bank details section of the invoice, typically below or beside the IBAN, BIC and account holder name.

Minimum size (2×2 cm recommended)

For printed invoices, the GiroCode should have a minimum size of 2 × 2 cm. A size of 3 × 3 cm is recommended for better scan reliability.

For digital invoices (PDF), the QR code should be at least 200 × 200 pixels. A size of 300–400 pixels is more comfortable for scanning from a screen.

Distance from edges and contrast

The QR code must have a quiet zone – a clear white border – of at least 4 QR code modules on all four sides. Print the QR code in black on white background.

GiroCode in Different Invoicing Programs

sevDesk – Automatic GiroCode Generation

sevDesk is a cloud-based accounting platform for freelancers, self-employed professionals and small businesses. It natively generates GiroCodes for every invoice:

Automatic GiroCode generation based on your stored bank account
Correct EPC payload formatting (amount, reference, IBAN)
Professional invoice templates with GiroCode placement
Bank account sync via PSD2 for automatic payment matching
DATEV export for tax advisors
GoBD-compliant document storage

Try sevDesk free for 14 days *

FastBill – GiroCode Integration

FastBill is an intuitive invoicing solution particularly popular with freelancers and creative professionals:

GiroCode automatically embedded in every invoice PDF
Clean, professional invoice templates
Bank account sync for payment monitoring
Automatic payment reminder emails
DATEV and Lexware integration

Try FastBill free for 14 days *

GiroCode Generator (our solution) – Free & Privacy-Friendly

Our free GiroCode Generator is the ideal solution for beginners and occasional users:

Completely free, no registration required
All processing happens locally in your browser – no data sent to servers
Generates GiroCode QR code as PNG for embedding in your own invoice template
Optional invoice PDF generation with embedded GiroCode
Ideal for freelancers who create invoices manually or in Word/Excel

Step-by-Step: Create Invoice with GiroCode

Enter payment details: Open our GiroCode Generator and fill in your recipient name, IBAN, optionally BIC, invoice amount and payment reference (e.g. “Invoice 2024-0042”).
Generate GiroCode: Click “Generate GiroCode”. The tool creates an EPC-compliant QR code instantly in your browser.
Fill in invoice details: In the invoice tab, enter your business name, address, client details, line items, VAT and other required fields.
Preview the invoice: The tool shows a live preview with the GiroCode embedded in the bottom-right corner.
Download PDF: Click “Download Invoice PDF” to save the completed invoice with embedded GiroCode to your device.
Send to customer: Email the PDF to your customer, or print and mail it. The GiroCode is embedded and ready to scan.

The entire process takes less than 3 minutes. All data is processed locally in your browser – your IBAN and invoice details never leave your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does adding a GiroCode to an invoice have any legal implications?

No. A GiroCode is a payment convenience feature with no legal implications. The same payment details encoded in the QR code must also appear in human-readable form on the invoice.

Can I add a GiroCode to Word or Excel invoices?

Yes. Generate the GiroCode as a PNG using our free tool, then insert the image into your Word or Excel invoice template. Position it in the bottom-right area near your bank details. Make sure the image is at least 2 × 2 cm when printed.

What happens if my client's banking app cannot scan GiroCodes?

All major German banking apps support GiroCode scanning. For clients using an older or unsupported app, the payment details are still clearly visible on the invoice in human-readable form, so they can make the transfer manually.

Should I include both IBAN text and GiroCode on the invoice?

Yes, always. Include your IBAN, BIC, bank name and payment reference in human-readable text on the invoice, and also include the GiroCode QR code.

Is a GiroCode on invoices required by law?

No. Including a GiroCode on invoices is entirely voluntary. There is no legal obligation to include one. However, the business benefits make it a strongly recommended practice.

What is the correct size for a GiroCode on a printed invoice?

The minimum recommended size is 2 × 2 cm for print. Our recommendation is 3 × 3 cm for reliable scanning by all camera types. Print at 300 DPI or higher.

Use GiroCode Professionally – Software Recommendations

Anyone who wants to use GiroCodes professionally on invoices will eventually need good accounting or invoicing software. Creating GiroCodes manually is fine for occasional use – but for regular invoicing, an automated solution quickly pays off.

We recommend two proven tools that natively support GiroCodes:

sevDesk

sevDesk is one of Germany's leading accounting platforms for freelancers and SMEs. Invoices with automatically generated GiroCode can be created in just a few clicks and sent directly by email. The software is DATEV-compatible and supports the small business regulation.

Try sevDesk free *

FastBill

FastBill offers a simple, speed-focused invoicing platform. With FastBill you can create a professional invoice including a GiroCode in under two minutes – directly in the browser, no installation needed. Ideal for freelancers and small teams.