Validate a Peppol BIS invoice
Check a Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 invoice against EN 16931 and the Peppol rules, with guidance on returned findings. Free within the daily limit.
In short
Check an invoice against its applicable EN 16931 and national rule set. Read each finding and guidance on what to correct. Free, 5 a day without an account.
Klarbon's Peppol validator checks a Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 invoice or credit note against the European standard EN 16931 and the Peppol rules published by OpenPeppol. Returned findings include rule codes and guidance where available. It checks the file, not the network: Klarbon does not send invoices or look up Peppol participants. Free for five checks a day, twenty with a free account.
Which rules does it apply?
| Ruleset | Prefix | Source |
|---|---|---|
| EN 16931 core rules in UBL | BR-, BR-CO-, BR-CL- and others | OpenPeppol rules |
| Peppol rules | PEPPOL-EN16931-, PEPPOL-COMMON- | OpenPeppol rules |
| National rules within Peppol | for example DE-R-, DK-R-, SE-R- | applied when seller or buyer is in that country |
A Peppol BIS invoice is UBL 2.1 that declares Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 in its CustomizationID and ProfileID (Peppol BIS Billing 3.0).
How do I validate a Peppol file?
- Upload the XML file.
- Read the report. Returned findings show the rule code and severity, with a business term, source location and correction guidance where available.
- Correct and check again, or use Fix to correct the invoice in a form and download a validated file for one credit.
What are common Peppol errors?
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R001: the business process (BT-23) is missing.
- Electronic address missing: seller or buyer has no endpoint ID with a scheme, which Peppol needs for routing.
- Code list values: a unit, VAT category or country code that is not on the allowed list.
- Totals and VAT breakdown that do not add up.
Valid file, still not delivered?
A rejection can involve recipient registration, additional access-point checks, an incorrect endpoint ID, a different rule version or a requirement not covered by the selected checks. Ask your Peppol provider. See why was my e-invoice rejected.
Where is Peppol required?
Belgium has required structured e-invoices for in-scope domestic B2B transactions since 1 January 2026. Peppol is the usual route, but FPS Finance describes conditions for agreed alternatives. See the Belgian guide. In the Netherlands, Peppol is one of the routes for invoicing central government; see the Netherlands guide.
What happens to my file?
It is sent to Klarbon's servers, validated in memory and deleted after the request. See what happens to my files.
What does it cost?
Free: five checks a day without an account, twenty with a free account, up to 2,000 a day on Pro and Bookkeeper. See prices.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How do I validate a Peppol invoice?
Upload the UBL file to Klarbon's Peppol validator. It applies EN 16931 and the Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 rules, including the national rules Peppol adds for some countries, and reports returned findings with guidance where available.
Does Klarbon check whether my customer is on Peppol?
No. Klarbon checks the file, not the network. Whether a participant is registered is shown by your access point or the Peppol directory.
Does the validator send my invoice over Peppol?
No. Klarbon is not a Peppol access point. It checks the file; you send it through your own Peppol provider.
What does PEPPOL-EN16931-R001 mean?
It is a Peppol rule that requires the business process (BT-23) to be stated. Peppol invoices declare it in the ProfileID element.
Sources
- OpenPeppol, Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 docs.peppol.eu
- OpenPeppol, Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 rules docs.peppol.eu
- FPS Finance, Belgian B2B e-invoicing FAQ efactuur.belgium.be
- Dutch government, e-invoicing central government ondernemersplein.overheid.nl
Related
Also as an API: Peppol BIS validation API