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Warning

UBL-CR-059: The despatch reference should not include an issuer party

In short

Warning: worth checking.

UBL-CR-059 means the despatch advice reference contains an issuer party, which EN 16931 does not use. Remove cac:IssuerParty from cac:DespatchDocumentReference.

On this page

What it means

The despatch advice reference (BT-16) points at the despatch advice, the document that lists what was sent. In a UBL invoice or credit note it is cac:DespatchDocumentReference. This rule checks that the block does not contain the party that issued the despatch advice (cac:IssuerParty), with its name, address or identifiers.

Why it matters

EN 16931 does not use an issuer party inside the despatch advice reference.

How to fix it

Remove the issuer party from the despatch advice reference. If the software adds the party itself, ask its supplier for an export that leaves it out. If you build the XML yourself, delete cac:IssuerParty from cac:DespatchDocumentReference. Then check the 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 DespatchDocumentReference IssuerParty

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-059 still fails, and which other rules do.

Updated 6 November 2026