SEPA QR code on invoices: how the EPC QR code works

What the EPC QR code is

The EPC guideline EPC069-12 describes how a two-dimensional code can carry the data for a SEPA credit transfer. The current version is 3.1, issued and effective on 19 March 2024; it replaced version 3.0 of 13 September 2022 after a review by the EPC's Payment Scheme Management Board. It is meant for cases where the same transfer data also appears in plain text for the payer, such as on an invoice, so that the payer can compare the two.

• The document is informative. Implementing the feature is optional for payment service providers, so whether a payer's app reads the code depends on the bank.
• Error correction level M, a QR code of at most version 13, and a payload of at most 331 bytes.
• The payload is plain text of up to 12 lines, separated by a line feed (LF) or a carriage return and line feed (CRLF).
• The amount is in euro, from 0.01 to 999999999.99.

The fields, and what DigiTale Invoice writes

Line 10 is meant for a structured creditor reference. DigiTale Invoice puts the variable symbol there, as a plain number, because the variable symbol is what identifies the payment to a Czech recipient. The guideline allows but doesn't require an RF reference there, and this page can't say how each bank's app treats a plain number, so test your first invoice with a payer's app.

An example, decoded

This is the text the code holds for a euro invoice of 1 210.00 EUR from a fictional supplier, with an IBAN, a BIC and the variable symbol 20260142. The IBAN is the Czech National Bank's published example for the account 19-2000145399/0800. The text was produced by the same code that builds the codes on real invoices.

BCD
002
1
SCT
GIBACZPX
Example Studio s.r.o.
CZ6508000000192000145399
EUR1210.00

20260142

The BIC rule

Version 001 of the guideline makes the BIC of the beneficiary's bank mandatory (8 or 11 characters). Version 002 makes it conditional: it can be left out within the EEA, but remains mandatory for SEPA payments that involve scheme participants from non-EEA countries.

• DigiTale Invoice always writes version 002.
• It writes a BIC only when you type one into the BIC/SWIFT field. It doesn't look the BIC up from your account.
• If your bank is outside the EEA, fill in the BIC. If you aren't sure, fill it in anyway: your bank shows it in its payment details.

Euro invoices only

The EPC code is a euro payment, so DigiTale Invoice writes it only for invoices in EUR. It also needs the IBAN to be typed in, because the code takes an IBAN and no account number, and your company name. The IBAN calculated from a Czech account number is used only for QR Platba.

SEPA QR code and QR Platba

The QR Platba guide explains the Czech format field by field. A client paying in koruna from a Czech account should be offered QR Platba; a client paying in euro can use the SEPA code if their bank supports it.

Choose EUR, enter your IBAN and switch on the QR code.Create a euro invoice with a QR code

This guide explains the rules in general terms. It isn't tax or legal advice; for your own situation, ask a tax adviser.