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Warning

UBL-CR-520: A line period should not have a start time

In short

Warning: worth checking.

UBL-CR-520 means the period on an invoice or credit note line has a start time (cbc:StartTime), which EN 16931 does not use. It is a warning. Remove the time; this warning does not require you to add a start date.

On this page

What it means

The rule checks cac:InvoicePeriod under every cac:InvoiceLine in a UBL invoice and every cac:CreditNoteLine in a UBL credit note for cbc:StartTime. Line periods (BG-26) use date fields for the start date (BT-134) and end date (BT-135); this check concerns only the start time.

Why it matters

EN 16931 uses dates rather than times of day for line periods (BG-26).

How to fix it

Delete cbc:StartTime from cac:InvoicePeriod under each cac:InvoiceLine or cac:CreditNoteLine. Keep any applicable cbc:StartDate (BT-134). Do not add a start date solely to clear this warning. 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 InvoiceLine InvoicePeriod StartTime

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-520 still fails, and which other rules do.

Updated 6 November 2026