What it means
The payment means code (BT-81) says how the invoice is to be paid, for example 58 for a SEPA bank transfer or 59 for a SEPA direct debit. If the file has more than one cbc:PaymentMeansCode, all of them must have the same value.
Why it matters
EN 16931 requires the same payment means code wherever it appears in the document.
How to fix it
In your invoicing software, check the payment details and choose a single payment method. If you offer two bank accounts for the same payment method, both should share the same code. If you build the XML yourself, give every cbc:PaymentMeansCode in the file the same value.
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
When there are more than one payment means code, they shall be equal 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-47 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- 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
- UBL-SR-51 An address can have only one third address line
- UBL-SR-52 A line can have only one document reference
- UBL-SR-53 Tax scheme entries need both a scheme code and a number