What it means
The rule checks that cbc:IssueTime is not directly under the invoice or credit note root. The invoice date (BT-2) is a separate field, held in cbc:IssueDate.
Why it matters
EN 16931 uses the invoice date (BT-2), not a separate issue time.
How to fix it
Delete the document-level cbc:IssueTime element and keep cbc:IssueDate. If you build the XML yourself, fix the template that writes the time. Export again and recheck the file.
Once the file is corrected, check it again for free: Validate an invoice against EN 16931
Or fix the invoice in a form and download the corrected file, for 1 credit: Fix a rejected e-invoice
The rule as published
A UBL invoice should not include the IssueTime Where this rule applies
| Rule set | Version |
|---|---|
| EN 16931 (UBL) | 1.3.17 |
| EN 16931 (UBL credit note) | 1.3.17 |
| XRechnung 3.0 (UBL) | 3.0.2 |
| XRechnung 3.0 (UBL credit note) | 3.0.2 |
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (invoice) | 2026.5 |
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (credit note) | 2026.5 |
| SI-UBL 2.0 / NLCIUS (invoice) | 2.0.3.13 |
| SI-UBL 2.0 / NLCIUS (credit note) | 2.0.3.13 |
| France CTC (UBL invoice) | 1.4.0-04 |
| France CTC (UBL credit note) | 1.4.0-04 |
| CIUS-RO UBL Invoice 1.0.9 | 1.0.9 |
| CIUS-RO UBL Credit Note 1.0.9 | 1.0.9 |
Check your file
Drop your e-invoice to see whether UBL-CR-006 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- UBL-CR-007 The file should not contain a pricing currency code
- UBL-CR-008 The file should not contain a payment currency code
- UBL-CR-009 The file should not contain an alternative payment currency
- UBL-CR-010 The file should not contain an accounting cost code
- UBL-CR-011 The file should not contain a line count element
- UBL-CR-012 The document-level invoicing period should not have a start time