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Warning

UBL-CR-505: The VAT category should not have a base unit of measure

In short

Warning: worth checking.

UBL-CR-505 means a tax category in a document-level tax subtotal has a base unit of measure (cbc:BaseUnitMeasure), which EN 16931 does not use there. It is a warning. Remove the element and recheck your file.

On this page

What it means

The rule checks cac:TaxCategory in each document-level cac:TaxTotal/cac:TaxSubtotal for cbc:BaseUnitMeasure. It applies to UBL invoices and credit notes. This is a measure used as a basis for a per-unit tax, not the unit of measure of the invoiced quantity (BT-130).

Why it matters

EN 16931 does not use a base unit of measure on the tax category in a document-level tax subtotal.

How to fix it

Delete cbc:BaseUnitMeasure from cac:TaxCategory under each document-level cac:TaxTotal/cac:TaxSubtotal. Leave the unit of measure of the invoiced quantity (BT-130) on the line. Recheck the 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 TaxTotal TaxSubtotal TaxCategory BaseUnitMeasure

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-505 still fails, and which other rules do.

Updated 6 November 2026