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Warning

UBL-CR-542: A line document reference should not carry a status code

In short

Warning: worth checking.

UBL-CR-542 means the document reference on an invoice or credit note line contains a document status code (cbc:DocumentStatusCode), which EN 16931 does not use there. It is a warning; remove the status code from the reference and recheck the file.

On this page

What it means

The rule warns if cac:DocumentReference inside cac:InvoiceLine or cac:CreditNoteLine contains cbc:DocumentStatusCode, the status code of the referenced document. It does not check the invoiced object identifier (BT-128) in cbc:ID or the document type code 130 in cbc:DocumentTypeCode.

Why it matters

The standard has no field for the status of a line reference. It is worth fixing when you want a file without warnings, or when the status is something the buyer needs to know.

How to fix it

Open the line in your invoicing software and look at the object or document reference fields. Keep the identifier and clear the document status code. If the status matters to the buyer, write it in the line note (BT-127). In the XML, delete cbc:DocumentStatusCode from cac:DocumentReference inside cac:InvoiceLine (cac:CreditNoteLine in a credit note). 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 DocumentStatusCode

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-542 still fails, and which other rules do.

Updated 6 November 2026