What it means
This rule checks that the receiving advice reference in a UBL invoice or credit note (cac:ReceiptDocumentReference) does not contain an attachment, such as an embedded file or a link to a document. EN 16931 only uses the reference number inside that block (BT-15, in cbc:ID).
Why it matters
The standard has no place for an attachment in the receiving advice reference, so the recipient's software ignores it or drops it. The recipient may never see the file you meant to send. The rule is a warning, so the invoice is still accepted.
How to fix it
Delete cac:Attachment from cac:ReceiptDocumentReference and export again. If the recipient needs the document, add it as a supporting document (BG-24) instead, either as an attached file (BT-125) or as a link (BT-124). Most invoicing software has an option to attach a file to the invoice.
The rule as published
A UBL invoice should not include the ReceiptDocumentReference Attachment 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-073 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- UBL-CR-074 Do not add a validity period to the receiving advice reference
- UBL-CR-075 Do not add an issuer to the receiving advice reference
- UBL-CR-076 Do not add a verification result to the receiving advice reference
- UBL-CR-077 Do not include a statement document reference
- UBL-CR-078 Do not add a copy flag to the originator document reference
- UBL-CR-079 Do not add a UUID to the originator document reference