What it means
EN 16931 lets each postal address have three address lines, written in the file as LineOne, LineTwo and LineThree. The rule checks that the PostalTradeAddress block has no LineFour element, which would be a fourth line.
Why it matters
The standard defines three address lines and no more. A fourth line has no agreed place in the recipient's software, so the file fails the check and the invoice is rejected.
How to fix it
Shorten the address to three lines: join the fourth line to the third with a comma, or drop it if it only repeats the postcode, city or country. In your invoicing software, look for address fields beyond the third and merge their text. If the file is generated, ask your software supplier to limit exported addresses to three lines. If you edit the XML, move the text of LineFour into LineThree and delete the LineFour line.
The rule as published
LineFour shall not be used. Where this rule applies
| Rule set | Version |
|---|---|
| EN 16931 (CII) | 1.3.17 |
| XRechnung 3.0 (CII) | 3.0.2 |
| NLCIUS (CII) | 1.0.3.13 |
| France CTC (CII) | 1.4.0-04 |
Check your file
Drop your e-invoice to see whether CII-DT-086 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- CII-DT-087 A postal address cannot have a fifth address line
- CII-DT-088 Put the street in the first address line, not a StreetName element
- CII-DT-089 A postal address must not use a city district element
- CII-DT-090 Give the country as a code, not as a country name
- CII-DT-091 Give a region as a name, not as a subdivision ID
- CII-DT-092 A postal address must not use an attention-of element