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Warning

UBL-CR-105: Leave the description out of the contract reference

In short

Warning: worth checking.

UBL-CR-105 means the contract reference in your UBL invoice or credit note carries a description (cbc:DocumentDescription), which EN 16931 does not use there. Delete that element from cac:ContractDocumentReference and check the file again.

On this page

What it means

A UBL invoice or credit note refers to a contract with cac:ContractDocumentReference. EN 16931 only uses the contract number from it (BT-12, in cbc:ID). This rule checks that the block does not also contain a description (cbc:DocumentDescription). A description is allowed on supporting documents, but not on the contract reference.

Why it matters

EN 16931 recommends leaving the description out of the contract reference.

How to fix it

Take the text out of the contract details in your invoicing software. If the recipient needs it, put it in the invoice note (BT-22) instead. If you build the XML yourself, delete cbc:DocumentDescription from cac:ContractDocumentReference. Recheck the corrected 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 ContractDocumentReference DocumentDescription

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-105 still fails, and which other rules do.

Updated 6 November 2026