Bypass DATEV Belegfreigabe Online for Pre-Approved Invoices Using Maesn Unified API
- Dr. Themo Voswinckel ⎪Co-Founder
- Dec 30, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 30, 2025
In many German accounting setups, DATEV Unternehmen Online plays a central role in document handling and financial posting. Add-ons such as DATEV Belegfreigabe Online and DATEV Belegfreigabe Online Comfort extend this platform by introducing structured approval workflows before invoices and bills are posted.
While these approval flows are essential for manual document handling, they often become a topic in Automation scenarios, especially when invoices are already pre-approved in upstream AR/AP systems.
This raises a common and highly searched question:
How to bypass DATEV Belegfreigabe with pre-approved files?
Key Takeaways for bypassing DATEV Belegfreigabe
DATEV Belegfreigabe Online and DATEV Belegfreigabe Online Comfort are two Add-ons to DATEV Unternehmen Online
Both Add-ons are made to ensure, that bills and invoices are approved before they are further processes within the DATEV environment
All manually (or via mail) uploaded invoices or bills end up in the pre-defined approval processes
If invoices or billes are transferred via API they bypass by default the approval process
Maesn Unified API supports files transfer for DATEV Unternehmen Online and ensures that pre-approved bills and invoices bypass DATEV Belegfreigabe
One integration with Maesn unlocks DATEV API Integration and dozens of other ERP systems via one Unified API
Maesn-based integrations can bypass DATEV Belegfreigabe without disabling it globally
A common assumption is that once Belegfreigabe Online is enabled, it must apply to all documents. In reality, this frequently creates unnecessary friction, as teams end up disabling Belegfreigabe entirely, thereby increasing the risk of manual errors in scenarios where approval workflows would otherwise add value.
Bypassing DATEV Belegfreigabe Online with Maesn Unified API
Using the Maesn Unified API, pre-approved invoices and booking proposals can be transferred to DATEV in a way that bypasses Belegfreigabe Online entirely.
API-originated data through Maesn follows a controlled, automated processing path
Manually uploaded documents can still go through Belegfreigabe Online as usual
Nothing is disabled, overridden, or reconfigured globally. The approval workflow remains available exactly where it makes sense.
This creates a clean separation between:
automated system integrations
manual accounting workflows
Both can coexist in the same DATEV environment without conflict.
Maesn uses DATEV Rechnungsdatenservice 1.0 to bypass DATEV Belegfreigabe Online
The Maesn Unified API acts as an abstraction layer on top of the DATEV Online APIs (and additional services). All relevant XML, CSV, and DATEV-specific formats are covered by our API and unified within a common data model that applies across all systems supported by Maesn. You can find more information about the different services and how we use them to provide a smooth and seamless developer experience here.
One unified Integration flow for all systems - even with DATEV Belegfreigabe
For engineering teams, this approach simplifies the integration significantly. Applications can rely on a deterministic API flow: documents and booking proposals are transferred, processed, and available in DATEV without waiting for manual approval steps.
There is no need to implement approval logic, handle intermediate states, or adapt behavior based on customer-specific Belegfreigabe configurations. The API contract remains stable and predictable across customers.
Accounting and finance teams retain full flexibility
Automated documents arrive without additional effort, while manual documents can still be reviewed and approved using Belegfreigabe online. This preserves internal control processes where they are needed, without blocking automation where they are not.
The result is a clear separation between automated system integrations and manual accounting workflows, both operating side by side within DATEV.
Bypassing DATEV Belegfreigabe enables scalable, real-world integrations
The ability to bypass DATEV Belegfreigabe for pre-approved invoices is essential for:
AR/AP automation platforms
Expense management tools
Billing systems
High-volume transaction use cases
Rather than enforcing a single workflow, Maesn adapts to existing DATEV setups and approval models, making automation scalable without compromising flexibility.
Summary: Bypass DATEV Belegfreigabe without losing approval control
With Maesn-based DATEV integrations:
Pre-approved invoices can bypass DATEV Belegfreigabe Online and DATEV Belegfreigabe Online Comfort
Manual approval workflows remain fully intact
Automation and control operate side by side
This approach eliminates unnecessary friction in automated accounting processes, without changing how accountants work where manual review is still required.
FAQ
Can DATEV Belegfreigabe Online be bypassed at all?
Yes. Invoices and booking proposals that are transferred to DATEV Unternehmen Online via Maesn Unified API can bypass the Belegfreigabe Online approval workflow. Manual uploads are still routed through Belegfreigabe as usual.
Does bypassing DATEV Belegfreigabe disable approval workflows globally?
No. Belegfreigabe Online and Belegfreigabe Online Comfort remain fully active for manually uploaded documents. Only API-originated data follows the automated path without approval steps.
Is bypassing Belegfreigabe via Maesn compliant with DATEV standards?
Yes. Maesn uses DATEV’s official interfaces as the the Rechnungsdatenservice 1.0. Maesn is official DATEV interface provider and is fully compliant and aligned with DATEV’s intended system architecture.
Which documents bypass DATEV Belegfreigabe automatically?
Invoices and bills that are transferred via API from pre-approved upstream systems (for example AR/AP or expense platforms) bypass Belegfreigabe. Documents uploaded manually or via email do not.
Can accounting teams still review automated invoices if needed?
Yes. All documents remain visible and traceable within DATEV. Teams retain full transparency without being forced into redundant approval steps.
Does Maesn work with DATEV Belegfreigabe Online Comfort as well?
Yes. The same principle applies to both Belegfreigabe Online and Belegfreigabe Online Comfort.
Do customers need to change their DATEV configuration?
No. No customer-side configuration changes are required. The separation between API-based automation and manual workflows works out of the box.
Which DATEV service is used to bypass Belegfreigabe Online?
Maesn uses DATEV Rechnungsdatenservice 1.0 to transfer invoices in a way that bypasses Belegfreigabe Online.
