What it means
The rule looks at the item on every invoice line (or credit note line) in a UBL file. It warns when the item's VAT details (cac:ClassifiedTaxCategory) contain a cbc:Name, a text name for the category such as Standard rate. The VAT category code (BT-151), any applicable VAT rate (BT-152) and the VAT scheme are separate from this name. This rule does not check their presence or values.
Why it matters
EN 16931 does not use a name within a line's classified tax category.
How to fix it
Check the export mapping for the VAT category name and omit it, or ask the supplier of your invoicing software to stop writing it. If you build the XML yourself, delete cbc:Name from cac:ClassifiedTaxCategory under cac:InvoiceLine/cac:Item (cac:CreditNoteLine in a credit note). Keep cbc:ID, any applicable cbc:Percent and cac:TaxScheme.
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 Item ClassifiedTaxCategory Name 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-597 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- UBL-CR-598 A line's VAT category should not carry a base unit
- UBL-CR-599 A line's VAT category should not carry a per-unit amount
- UBL-CR-600 Exemption reason codes belong in the VAT breakdown, not on a line
- UBL-CR-601 Exemption reason text belongs in the VAT breakdown, not on a line
- UBL-CR-602 A line's VAT category should not carry a tier range
- UBL-CR-603 A line's VAT category should not carry a tier rate