What it means
In a UBL file the order reference (cac:OrderReference) carries the purchase order number (BT-13) and the sales order reference (BT-14). This rule checks that it does not also contain a cac:DocumentReference, the UBL block for pointing to another document connected to the order. EN 16931 has no field for that block.
Why it matters
The EN 16931 UBL rules do not use a document reference nested inside the order reference.
How to fix it
Remove cac:DocumentReference from cac:OrderReference. Keep cbc:ID with the purchase order number (BT-13) and any sales order reference (BT-14). If you need to include the supporting document, use an additional supporting document (BG-24) at document level instead. 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 DocumentReference 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-022 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- 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
- UBL-CR-028 Do not send an XPath in the earlier invoice reference