What it means
For a seller in the Netherlands, the invoice must contain payment instructions (BG-16) whenever the buyer has to pay the seller. An invoice with an amount due (BT-115) above zero needs them. A credit note needs them only if its amount due is below zero. An invoice with an amount due of zero or less, such as one that is already paid, and a credit note with an amount due of zero or more, are exempt. In UBL the payment instructions are cac:PaymentMeans. This rule checks for the group, not the payment method or bank account fields.
Why it matters
The Dutch rules require payment instructions whenever money is due to a seller in the Netherlands, so missing instructions fail the check.
How to fix it
Add the payment instructions for the agreed payment method in your invoicing software. If the buyer is also in the Netherlands, the payment means code must be one of the codes listed under NL-R-008. If you build the XML yourself, add cac:PaymentMeans. Then export the file and check it again.
Once the file is corrected, check it again for free: Validate a Peppol BIS invoice
Or fix the invoice in a form and download the corrected file, for 1 credit: Fix a rejected e-invoice
The rule as published
Read the rule on the publisher's site
Where this rule applies
| Rule set | Version |
|---|---|
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (invoice) | 2026.5 |
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (credit note) | 2026.5 |
Check your file
Drop your e-invoice to see whether NL-R-007 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- NL-R-008 Dutch domestic payment instructions need an allowed code
- NL-R-009 Dutch sellers' order line references need a document-level purchase order number
- NL-R-006 Dutch sellers need street, city and post code for Dutch tax representatives
- NL-R-005 Buyer registration numbers on Dutch domestic invoices need KVK or OIN
- NL-R-004 Dutch domestic invoices need the buyer's street, city and post code
- NL-R-003 A Dutch seller's registration number must use KVK or OIN