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Lexware

Learn how to connect and configure Lexware Office for automated invoice generation.

Lexware Office (formerly lexoffice) is a popular German cloud-based accounting software. This guide covers both connecting your Lexware account and configuring it for optimal order processing and financial management.

Table of Contents

Before You Start

Prerequisites

What You'll Need

  • API Token - Your Lexware API token for secure authentication

Connecting Lexware

Step 1: Generate API Token

  1. Log into your Lexware Office account at https://app.lexoffice.de
  2. Navigate to: Settings → Public API
  3. Create a new API key with the following permissions:
    • Retrieve general profile information
    • Retrieve articles
    • Retrieve contacts
    • Save contacts
    • Retrieve invoices
    • Save invoices
  4. Copy the generated API token for use in BrickInvoice

Step 2: Configure Connection

  1. Navigate to: /home/accounting/connect
  2. Select "Lexware" from the package dropdown
  3. Enter your API Token in the provided field
  4. Click "Connect to Lexware" to verify the token and save the connection

Security Note

Your API token is:

  • Encrypted before storage in the BrickInvoice database
  • Never shared with third parties
  • Used only for authenticated API calls to Lexware
  • Can be regenerated in Lexware settings if compromised

Configuring Lexware Settings

After successfully connecting Lexware, you'll need to configure how orders are processed and mapped to your accounting system.

Invoice Line Item Structure

Each order creates an invoice with separate line items for different product types and customer locations. Lexware uses Articles for line items, which you'll need to create in Lexware first.

Product Line Items (Standard Products)

  • LEGO parts and sets subject to standard VAT rates
  • Separate Articles based on customer location:
    • Domestic: Sales within Germany
    • EU: Sales to other EU countries
    • Export/Other: International sales outside the EU
  • Each Article needs appropriate tax code based on German/EU tax rules

Margin Scheme Line Items (Second-hand Goods)

  • Products subject to margin scheme (special VAT treatment for used goods)
  • Separate Articles based on customer location:
    • Domestic: Margin scheme sales within Germany
    • EU: Margin scheme sales to other EU countries
    • Export/Other: Margin scheme sales outside the EU
  • Tax codes typically set to 0% under margin scheme

Handling Fees Line Items

  • Processing and handling costs
  • Single Article that applies to all regions
  • Set appropriate tax code (usually same as standard rate)

Shipping Line Items

  • Shipping and delivery costs
  • Single Article that applies to all regions
  • Set appropriate tax code (usually same as standard rate)

Line Item Descriptions

Each line item type has an optional description field. You can leave it empty (no description will be sent to Lexware) or use placeholders for dynamic content:

  • {order_number} - The order number (e.g., "123456")
  • {source} - The platform name ("BrickLink" or "Brick Owl")
  • {payment_method} - The payment method used (e.g., "PayPal")

Example: "Products from {source} order {order_number}" becomes "Products from BrickLink order 123456"

Articles Mapping

For each line item type and region, you'll map a Lexware Article:

Product Sales:

  • Domestic Product - For customers in Germany (e.g., "LEGO Parts - Germany 19%")
  • EU Product - For other EU customers (e.g., "LEGO Parts - EU 19%")
  • Export Product - For non-EU customers (e.g., "LEGO Parts - Export 0%")
  • B2B Product (optional) - For B2B orders with reverse charge (e.g., "LEGO Parts - B2B 0%"). Only visible when B2B VAT Exempt is enabled in Order Sync settings.

Margin Scheme Sales:

  • Domestic Margin - For customers in Germany (e.g., "Margin Scheme - Domestic")
  • EU Margin - For other EU customers (e.g., "Margin Scheme - EU")
  • Export Margin - For non-EU customers (e.g., "Margin Scheme - Export")
  • B2B Margin (optional) - For B2B margin scheme orders with reverse charge. Only visible when B2B VAT Exempt is enabled.

Other Items:

  • Shipping Article - For shipping costs (e.g., "Versandkosten")
  • Shipping Article (B2B) (optional) - For B2B shipping with reverse charge. Only visible when B2B VAT Exempt is enabled.
  • Handling Fees Article - For processing fees (e.g., "Bearbeitungsgebühren")
  • Handling Fees Article (B2B) (optional) - For B2B handling fees with reverse charge. Only visible when B2B VAT Exempt is enabled.

If you don't want to separate domestic and EU sales, you can choose the same Article for both.

B2B Articles: When an order is detected as B2B exempt, BrickInvoice uses the configured B2B Article for that line item instead of the standard article. The B2B Article should have a 0% or reverse charge tax code in Lexware.

General Settings

Before configuring Articles, you can optionally set up invoice customization:

Differentiate BrickLink and Brick Owl:

  • Enable this option to configure separate Articles for BrickLink and Brick Owl orders
  • Useful when you want to track sales from different platforms separately in your accounting
  • When enabled, each Article dropdown is replaced with two dropdowns side by side: one for BrickLink, one for Brick Owl
  • This allows you to use different ledger accounts or Articles per platform
  • Leave disabled if you want to use the same Articles for all orders regardless of source

Invoice Title:

  • Optional custom title for invoices
  • Maximum 25 characters
  • Static text only (no placeholders)

Introduction Text:

  • Optional introductory text displayed on invoices
  • Placeholders: You can use the following placeholders for dynamic content:
    • {order_number} - Automatically replaced with the order number (e.g., "123456")
    • {source} - Automatically replaced with the platform name ("BrickLink" or "Brick Owl")
    • {payment_method} - Automatically replaced with the payment method used (e.g., "PayPal")
    • Example: "Order {order_number} from {source}" becomes "Order 123456 from BrickLink"

Remarks Text:

  • Optional closing remarks or notes
  • Placeholders: Supports the same placeholders as Introduction Text above
  • Example: "Vielen Dank für Ihre Bestellung!"

Make Invoice Final:

  • Choose whether invoices should be automatically finalized after creation
  • No: Invoices remain in draft status (editable in Lexware)
  • Yes: Invoices are automatically finalized and receive official invoice numbers

Configuration Tips

1. Create Articles in Lexware First

  • Go to Lexware → Articles/Products menu
  • Create Articles for each category and region
  • Set appropriate tax codes (VAT rates) for each Article
  • Use clear, descriptive names

2. Use Consistent Naming

  • Example: "LEGO Parts - Domestic 19%", "Versandkosten"
  • Makes it easier to identify Articles in BrickInvoice configuration
  • Helps with bookkeeping and reporting

3. Review Tax Settings

  • Ensure Articles have correct tax codes for German tax regulations
  • Standard rate: 19% for regular products, shipping, and handling
  • Margin scheme: 0% for second-hand goods under margin scheme
  • Export: 0% for sales outside the EU

Invoice Features

Automatic Invoice Creation

When orders are synchronized:

  1. Customer Sync: Customer data (contact) is created or updated in Lexware
  2. Invoice Generation: Invoice is created with proper line item structure
  3. Invoice Finalization (optional): Invoice can be automatically finalized in Lexware

Invoice Amounts Display

Invoices in Lexware display amounts using the gross price method (Bruttopreise). Line items show the gross amounts (with VAT included). This is the standard display format and ensures the final invoice totals match your order amounts exactly.

Customer Management

BrickInvoice automatically manages customers (contacts) in your Lexware system:

  • Customer Creation: New contacts are automatically created based on order data
  • Customer Updates: Existing contact information is updated when needed
  • Customer Search: The system uses a smart search strategy since Lexware requires at least 3 characters for name searches:
    1. Last name (3+ characters): Search by last name (default)
    2. Short last name (1-2 characters): Search by first name instead, then filter results by the short last name
    3. Both names short: Search by email address as fallback
    • Once matching contacts are found, the best match is selected using:
      1. BrickLink/BrickOwl username stored in the note field (BL_username or BO_username)
      2. First name and country code if no username match found
  • Address Management: Billing addresses are created with proper country codes

Invoice URLs

BrickInvoice automatically generates direct links to view invoices in your Lexware interface. These URLs allow you to quickly navigate to the invoice in Lexware for review or further processing.

Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

"Failed to Connect to Lexware"

  • Invalid API token: Verify your API token is correct
  • Missing permissions: Check if all required permissions are enabled for your API token
  • Network issues: Verify your internet connection and Lexware service status

"Authentication Failed"

  • Token revoked: Check if you regenerated tokens in Lexware (old tokens become invalid)
  • Account suspended: Verify your Lexware subscription is active
  • Permission issues: Ensure your API token has all required permissions

Configuration Issues

"Articles Not Loading"

  • Check connection: Verify Lexware is still connected
  • Permissions: Ensure your API token has "Retrieve articles" permission
  • Empty articles: Check that you have created Articles in Lexware
  • Refresh: Try refreshing the configuration page

"Invoice Creation Failed"

  • Missing Articles: Verify all required Articles are configured
  • Invalid tax: Selected Article may have invalid or expired tax code
  • Article settings: Verify Articles have correct tax codes in Lexware
  • Customer data: Ensure order has complete customer information

Disconnecting Lexware

To disconnect Lexware:

  1. Navigate to: /home/accounting/connect
  2. Click "Disconnect" button
  3. Confirm the disconnection
  4. Connection credentials are removed from BrickInvoice

Note: Existing invoices in Lexware are not affected by disconnecting. You can reconnect at any time with the same or new API token.

Best Practices

Small Business Owners (Kleinunternehmer)

If you are registered as a small business owner (Kleinunternehmer) in Lexware, your invoices are exempt from VAT according to §19 UStG.

Lexware Kleinunternehmer Setting

Important: When you have this setting enabled in Lexware, you must also disable VAT in BrickInvoice:

  1. Go to Settings → Localization
  2. Uncheck VAT applicable
  3. Save your settings

This ensures that BrickInvoice creates invoices with taxType: vatfree which matches your Kleinunternehmer status in Lexware. All line items will be sent with net amounts and 0% tax rate.

VAT Configuration for German Businesses

Standard Setup:

  • Domestic (Germany): 19% standard VAT rate (Umsatzsteuer)
  • EU Sales: 19% standard VAT rate
  • Export Sales: 0% (no VAT for non-EU sales)
  • Margin Scheme: 0% (special treatment for second-hand goods, Differenzbesteuerung)

Articles Organization

Recommended Articles Structure (Standard):

Articles in Lexware:
├── LEGO Parts - Domestic (19% VAT)
├── LEGO Parts - EU (19% VAT)
├── LEGO Parts - Export (0% VAT)
├── Margin - Domestic (0% Margin)
├── Margin - EU (0% Margin)
├── Margin - Export (0% Margin)
├── Versandkosten (19% VAT)
└── Bearbeitungsgebühren (19% VAT)

With Platform Differentiation (BrickLink/Brick Owl):

If you enable "Differentiate BrickLink and Brick Owl", you can use separate Articles for each platform:

Articles in Lexware:
├── BrickLink - Domestic (19% VAT)
├── BrickLink - EU (19% VAT)
├── BrickLink - Export (0% VAT)
├── Brick Owl - Domestic (19% VAT)
├── Brick Owl - EU (19% VAT)
├── Brick Owl - Export (0% VAT)
├── Versandkosten BL (19% VAT)
├── Versandkosten BO (19% VAT)
└── ... (repeat for margin scheme and handling fees)

This is useful when you want to:

  • Track revenue per platform separately
  • Use different ledger accounts for different sales channels
  • Generate platform-specific reports in Lexware

Next Steps

After configuring Lexware:

  1. Test integration - Process a few orders as draft invoices
  2. Verify invoices - Check that invoices are created correctly in Lexware
  3. Review tax treatment - Ensure tax codes are applied correctly based on customer location
  4. Set up automation - Configure automated invoice generation schedules

Support

If you encounter issues with the Lexware integration, please use the contact form to reach out to us.