The EPC QR code holds the details of a SEPA credit transfer so that a banking app can fill them in. The European Payments Council's guideline EPC069-12, version 3.1 of 19 March 2024, sets its content; in Germany it is known as GiroCode. It prefills a payment without authorising one, and is not an invoice. Reading EPC QR codes is planned in Klarbon.
What is in an EPC QR code?
| Line | Holds |
|---|---|
| Service tag | BCD |
| Version | 001 or 002 |
| Character set | 1 for UTF-8, or one of seven ISO 8859 sets |
| Identification | SCT, a SEPA credit transfer |
| BIC | the beneficiary's bank; required in version 001, optional in 002 except with banks outside the EEA |
| Name | the beneficiary, up to 70 characters |
| IBAN | the beneficiary's account |
| Amount | in euro, for example EUR12.3, up to 999,999,999.99 |
| Purpose | an optional four-character code |
| Reference | either a structured creditor reference (ISO 11649 RF) or an unstructured text of up to 140 characters |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| QR code | at most version 13, error correction level M |
| Payload | at most 331 bytes |
| Who offers scanning | optional for banks in the SEPA credit transfer scheme |
The fields, limits and code settings are in the EPC guideline (EPC). German savings banks, for example, describe GiroCode as a QR code that fills in recipient, IBAN, BIC, amount and reference in the banking app (S-Public Services).
EPC QR code, Swiss QR-bill and e-invoice
| EPC QR code | Swiss QR-bill | E-invoice, such as XRechnung | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holds | one euro transfer | one CHF or EUR payment | the whole invoice: lines, VAT, parties |
| Area | SEPA | Switzerland and Liechtenstein | depends on the format |
| Read by | banking apps | banking apps and software | accounting software |
What does Klarbon do with EPC QR codes?
Reading the EPC QR code on an invoice PDF or image is planned, not available yet. Klarbon does not start or approve payments. To read the invoice itself, see the invoice viewer.
Related
Frequently asked questions
What is an EPC QR code?
A QR code printed on an invoice or shown on screen that holds the details of a SEPA credit transfer, such as the beneficiary's name, IBAN, amount and reference. A banking app scans it and fills in the transfer for you to approve.
Is GiroCode the same as the EPC QR code?
GiroCode is the name the code goes by in Germany, for example in Sparkassen banking apps. It carries the same payment details in the EPC layout.
Does scanning an EPC QR code pay the invoice?
No. It only fills in the transfer. You still check the details and approve the payment in your banking app.
How much data can an EPC QR code hold?
The EPC guidelines limit the payload to 331 bytes, with up to 70 characters for the beneficiary's name and 140 for an unstructured reference. Amounts are in euro, up to 999,999,999.99.
Sources
- European Payments Council, EPC069-12 version 3.1, Quick Response Code: guidelines to enable data capture for the initiation of a SEPA credit transfer (PDF) europeanpaymentscouncil.eu
- S-Public Services, GiroCode (in German) s-publicservices.de
- SIX, QR-bill payment standards six-group.com