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Warning

UBL-DT-13: Leave out the unitCodeListIdentifier attribute

In short

Warning: worth checking.

UBL-DT-13 means the invoice contains a unitCodeListIdentifier attribute, which the standard asks you to leave out. Remove the attribute from your export to clear the warning.

On this page

What it means

The check searches the whole file for a unitCodeListIdentifier attribute. In UBL it can sit on the quantity of a line (BT-129) and say which code list the unit of measure code (BT-130) comes from. For example, HUR is a unit code for hours. This rule checks for unitCodeListIdentifier, not the value of unitCode.

Why it matters

EN 16931 asks you to omit unitCodeListIdentifier from UBL invoices and credit notes.

How to fix it

It is worth fixing if every invoice from your software carries it, since the warning then repeats. Your lines keep their units, such as hours or pieces: only the code list attribute goes. Ask the supplier of your invoicing software to stop writing unitCodeListIdentifier. If you build the XML yourself, keep unitCode and remove unitCodeListIdentifier from every element that has it. Export again and 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

Unit code list identifier attribute should not be present

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-DT-13 still fails, and which other rules do.

Updated 6 November 2026