What it means
A UBL file can hold an order reference (cac:OrderReference) with the buyer's purchase order number (BT-13) and the seller's sales order reference (BT-14). This rule checks that the order reference does not also hold cbc:OrderTypeCode, a code that says what kind of order it is. EN 16931 has no field for it.
Why it matters
The EN 16931 UBL rules do not use an order type code in the order reference.
How to fix it
Remove only cbc:OrderTypeCode from cac:OrderReference. Keep the purchase order number (BT-13) in cbc:ID and any sales order reference (BT-14). Check the corrected file again.
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 OrderTypeCode 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-021 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- UBL-CR-022 Do not nest a document reference in the order reference
- UBL-CR-023 Do not send a copy flag in the earlier invoice reference
- UBL-CR-024 Do not send a UUID in the earlier invoice reference
- UBL-CR-025 Do not send a time of day in the earlier invoice reference
- UBL-CR-026 Do not send a document type code in the earlier invoice reference
- UBL-CR-027 Do not send a document type name in the earlier invoice reference