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Warning

UBL-CR-016: The purchase order reference should not have a copy indicator

In short

Warning: worth checking.

UBL-CR-016 means the document-level purchase order reference contains a copy indicator (cbc:CopyIndicator), which EN 16931 does not use. Remove it and keep the purchase order number (BT-13).

On this page

What it means

The rule checks that the document-level cac:OrderReference has no cbc:CopyIndicator. This is a yes or no flag in UBL that marks the referenced order as a copy. The purchase order number (BT-13) is held in cac:OrderReference/cbc:ID.

Why it matters

EN 16931's UBL rules exclude the copy indicator from the document-level order reference, whether its value is true or false.

How to fix it

Delete cbc:CopyIndicator inside cac:OrderReference directly under the invoice or credit note root, and keep cbc:ID with the purchase order number. This is a different element from the copy indicator directly under the document root, which has its own rule. 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 OrderReference CopyIndicator

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
Rule text from phive-rules 4.6.4.

Check your file

Drop your e-invoice to see whether UBL-CR-016 still fails, and which other rules do.

Updated 6 November 2026