What it means
The payment reference (BT-83) is the text the buyer should quote when paying. The main test allows at most one distinct cbc:PaymentID value anywhere in the invoice or credit note. You may repeat that value in several payment means blocks (cac:PaymentMeans).
Why it matters
The rule limits payment references to one value for the document.
How to fix it
Check the payment details in your invoicing software, especially if you list more than one way to pay. Make sure one payment reference is used everywhere. If you build the XML yourself, give every cbc:PaymentID the same value, or keep it in one block only.
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
An Invoice may only have one unique PaymentID, but the PaymentID may be used for multiple PaymentMeans 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-SR-44 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- UBL-SR-45 Only one due date in the payment means
- UBL-SR-46 The payment means text can only be given once
- UBL-SR-47 All payment means codes on an invoice must be the same
- UBL-SR-48 Every line must have exactly one VAT category
- UBL-SR-49 The VAT point date code can only be given once
- UBL-SR-50 A line can have only one item description