What it means
This rule checks that the buyer's party details (BG-7) do not contain a physical location, the element cac:PhysicalLocation. That element describes a separate place linked to the buyer. EN 16931 has no such field for the buyer. A place of delivery has its own block, the delivery information (BG-13). The rule applies to UBL invoices and credit notes.
Why it matters
EN 16931 does not use PhysicalLocation within the buyer's party details; delivery information has its own group (BG-13).
How to fix it
In your invoicing software, check whether the buyer has an extra location or branch field and whether it is exported as PhysicalLocation. Stop exporting that block. If the place is where the goods or services went, fill in the delivery address instead. If you build the XML yourself, delete cac:PhysicalLocation from cac:AccountingCustomerParty/cac:Party and use cac:Delivery for the delivery place if applicable. 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 PhysicalLocation 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-231 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- UBL-CR-232 Leave the tax registration name out of the buyer's tax details
- UBL-CR-233 Leave the tax level code out of the buyer's tax details
- UBL-CR-234 Leave the exemption reason code out of the buyer's tax details
- UBL-CR-235 Leave the exemption reason text out of the buyer's tax details
- UBL-CR-236 Leave the tax registration address out of the buyer's tax details
- UBL-CR-237 Leave the tax scheme name out of the buyer's tax details