What it means
This rule checks that the buyer's postal address (BG-8) does not contain cbc:CountrySubentityCode. EN 16931 uses cbc:CountrySubentity for the buyer's country subdivision (BT-54). The test excludes the separate code element; it does not check the wording of BT-54. The rule applies to UBL invoices and credit notes.
Why it matters
EN 16931 uses the country subdivision text field, not the separate CountrySubentityCode element.
How to fix it
Check whether your invoicing software exports the buyer's state, province or region in cbc:CountrySubentityCode. Stop exporting that element and, if you need the information, put it in the country subdivision field (BT-54). If you build the XML yourself, delete cbc:CountrySubentityCode and use cbc:CountrySubentity in cac:AccountingCustomerParty/cac:Party/cac:PostalAddress. Export or save the file again and recheck it.
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 AccountingCustomerParty Party PostalAddress CountrySubentityCode 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-225 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- UBL-CR-226 Leave the region out of the buyer's address
- UBL-CR-227 Leave the district out of the buyer's address
- UBL-CR-228 Leave the timezone offset out of the buyer's address
- UBL-CR-229 Leave the country name out of the buyer's address
- UBL-CR-230 Leave map coordinates out of the buyer's address
- UBL-CR-231 Leave the physical location out of the buyer's details