What it means
Each line (BG-25) can have one item description (BT-154), a longer text about the goods or service. The check counts the cbc:Description elements in the item (cac:Item) of every line and fails when a line has more than one.
Why it matters
EN 16931 has one field for the item description.
How to fix it
In your invoicing software, look for a line whose description is split over several fields and combine them into one. A short name belongs in the item name (BT-153) and the longer text in the description. If you build the XML yourself, keep one cbc:Description in cac:Item and join the others into it.
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
Item description shall occur maximum once 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-50 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- 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
- UBL-SR-54 An invoice can have only one payment card account
- UBL-SR-55 An invoice can have only one direct debit mandate
- UBL-SR-56 An invoice can have only one tender or lot reference