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Warning

UBL-CR-543: A line document reference should not carry a description

In short

Warning: worth checking.

UBL-CR-543 means the document reference on a line contains a free-text description of the referenced document, which EN 16931 does not use. It is a warning; move the text to the line note.

On this page

What it means

This rule warns when the document reference of any line also holds a description of the referenced document (cbc:DocumentDescription).

Why it matters

This is a warning. The standard has no field for a description on a line reference. It is worth fixing when the text matters to the buyer.

How to fix it

Open the line in your invoicing software and look at the object or document reference. Keep the identifier and clear the description. If the buyer should read the text, put it in the line note (BT-127) or the item description (BT-154) instead. If you build the XML yourself, delete cbc:DocumentDescription from cac:DocumentReference inside cac:InvoiceLine (cac:CreditNoteLine in a credit note).

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 DocumentDescription

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-543 still fails, and which other rules do.

Updated 6 November 2026