What it means
This rule checks that cbc:Description is absent from document-level cac:AdditionalDocumentReference/cac:Attachment/cac:ExternalReference in a UBL invoice or credit note. It applies to every additional document reference. A supporting document description (BT-123) belongs in cbc:DocumentDescription directly inside cac:AdditionalDocumentReference, not inside the attachment or its external reference.
Why it matters
EN 16931 provides a supporting document description (BT-123), but not a separate description inside the document link.
How to fix it
For a supporting document, move any description you need to keep into cac:AdditionalDocumentReference/cbc:DocumentDescription (BT-123). Remove cbc:Description from cac:AdditionalDocumentReference/cac:Attachment/cac:ExternalReference. Export the corrected file and check it 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 AdditionalDocumentReference Attachment External Descriprion 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-130 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- UBL-CR-131 Supporting documents should not carry a validity period
- UBL-CR-132 Supporting documents should not name an issuing party
- UBL-CR-133 Supporting documents should not carry a verification result
- UBL-CR-134 A project reference should not have a UUID
- UBL-CR-135 A project reference should not carry an issue date
- UBL-CR-136 A project reference should not have a work phase