What it means
The rule warns if cac:DocumentReference inside cac:InvoiceLine or cac:CreditNoteLine contains cbc:IssueDate. It does not check the invoiced object identifier (BT-128) in cbc:ID or the document type code 130 in cbc:DocumentTypeCode. The invoice date (BT-2) is outside this check.
Why it matters
There is no field for the date of a line reference. It is worth fixing when the buyer needs that date.
How to fix it
Open the line in your invoicing software and clear the date from its object or document reference. If the buyer needs the date, put it in the line note (BT-127). In the XML, delete cbc:IssueDate from cac:DocumentReference inside cac:InvoiceLine (cac:CreditNoteLine in a credit note). The invoice date at the top of the invoice (BT-2) is a different field and stays. 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 DocumentReference IssueDate 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-534 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- UBL-CR-535 A line document reference should not carry an issue time
- UBL-CR-537 A line document reference should not carry a text document type
- UBL-CR-538 A line document reference should not carry an XPath
- UBL-CR-539 A line document reference should not carry a language
- UBL-CR-540 A line document reference should not carry a locale code
- UBL-CR-541 A line document reference should not carry a version