European Standard for eInvoicing EN 16931
Understand the EN 16931 standard established by the EU for eInvoicing and how it relates to Peppol
What is EN 16931?
EN 16931 is the European standard for eInvoicing published in 2017 by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). This standard defines a common semantic data model for the core content of electronic invoices.
The main objective is to guarantee interoperability between different eInvoicing systems in Europe, thereby simplifying cross-border trade and reducing costs.
The standard consists of a semantic data model that describes which information elements an eInvoice must or can contain, regardless of the syntax in which it is exchanged. This ensures flexibility while maintaining consistency.
Core Components of EN 16931
Semantic Data Model
The heart of the standard: a structured model that defines all information elements that can appear in an eInvoice.
- 163 information elements defined
- Mandatory and optional fields
- Business rules and validations
- Support for different invoice types
Syntax Bindings
Technical implementations of the data model in different formats for practical use.
- UBL 2.1 (Universal Business Language)
- UN/CEFACT CII (Cross Industry Invoice)
- CIUS possibilities
- Extensions for national requirements
Code Lists
Standardized codes for consistent data exchange between systems and countries.
- Currency codes (ISO 4217)
- Country codes (ISO 3166)
- VAT categories
- Payment methods
Validation & Compliance
Tools and rules to ensure that invoices comply with the standard and can be processed correctly.
- Schematron validation rules
- Business rules verification
- Syntax validation
- Compliance testing tools
Interoperability
Mechanisms that ensure different systems can work together seamlessly.
- Mapping between syntaxes
- Backward compatibility
- International standards
- Multi-language support
Security & Integrity
Safeguards for secure and reliable exchange of eInvoices.
- Digital signatures
- Authenticity assurance
- Content integrity
- Audit trail requirements
How does EN 16931 relate to Peppol?
The Perfect Combination
EN 16931 defines WHAT should be in an eInvoice (the semantic model), while Peppol determines HOW this invoice is securely exchanged between organizations (the transport network).
Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 is fully compliant with EN 16931 and adds specific business rules that optimize usage within the Peppol network.
This combination ensures:
- Guaranteed interoperability throughout Europe
- Secure end-to-end document exchange
- Automatic validation and compliance
- Cost-effective implementation
- Scalability for future growth
Architecture Overview
Semantic Data Model
UBL 2.1 / CII
Transport & Validation
Timeline EN 16931 & eInvoicing
EU Directive 2014/55/EU
European Parliament establishes the directive mandating the development of EN 16931.
Publication of EN 16931
CEN publishes the official European standard for eInvoicing with semantic data model.
Mandatory B2G Implementation
All EU governments must be able to receive EN 16931 compliant eInvoices.
Peppol BIS 3.0
Peppol launches BIS Billing 3.0, fully compliant with EN 16931.
ViDA Initiative
EU 'VAT in the Digital Age' proposals for mandatory B2B eInvoicing from 2028.
B2B Mandates
Various EU countries implement mandatory B2B eInvoicing based on EN 16931.
Technical Specifications
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Standard Identification | EN 16931-1:2017 (Semantic model) + EN 16931-2:2017 (Syntaxes) |
Supported Syntaxes | UBL 2.1 UN/CEFACT CII D16B |
Document Types | Invoice (380), Credit Note (381), Corrected Invoice (384) |
Mandatory Elements | 37 core business terms (such as invoice number, date, supplier, VAT) |
Business Rules | 100+ validation rules for data consistency and correctness |
Character Encoding | UTF-8 (Unicode) |
Identification Schemes | ISO 6523 ICD list (VAT, Chamber of Commerce, GLN, DUNS, etc.) |
Extensions (CIUS) | National specifications allowed within defined boundaries |
Ready for EN 16931 compliance?
Discover how Peppol helps you with EN 16931 implementation and full compliance for your eInvoicing processes.
Peppol.nu - Your guide in the world of eInvoicing