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E-invoice validator: Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 and EN 16931

Upload a UBL or CII e-invoice: the validator checks its format, applies the official rules of the European standard EN 16931 and of Peppol BIS Billing 3.0, and reviews the key invoice data. Free, instant, and the file is not stored.

UBL or CII XML file, or PDF with embedded XML (Factur-X / ZUGFeRD), 4 MB maximum

What the validator checks

EN 16931 is the European standard for e-invoices, with two syntaxes, UBL and CII. Peppol BIS Billing 3.0, published by OpenPeppol, is the specification of EN 16931 used on the Peppol network, in UBL: for example, it is the default format of the Belgian B2B obligation since 2026.

The validator reads the file, recognises its syntax and profile, then applies the official rule sets: EN 16931 (mandatory data, calculations, code lists) and, for UBL invoices, the Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 rules. A CII invoice is checked against EN 16931 only, because Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 uses UBL.

It also checks the invoice number and date, the seller's VAT number, the due date and the consistency of the net, VAT and gross amounts. Each point is explained, with how to fix it. The file is analysed in memory and not stored.

Some countries add their own rules (Germany's XRechnung, Italy's FatturaPA, Spain's and Portugal's national formats): this validator does not apply them.

  • Compliant: the check passed.
  • To review: nothing blocking, but a point deserves your attention.
  • Error: the invoice breaks an official rule and should be corrected before it is sent.
  • The validator is not a certification: your Peppol access point and your customer run their own checks.

Official sources

Rules checked on 20 October 2026. Free tool for information only: it is not legal or tax advice. The rules are checked against the official sources listed on this page; check your own situation before acting.

Frequently asked questions

Which files can I check?

A UBL or CII XML file, or a PDF with embedded XML (Factur-X / ZUGFeRD), up to 4 MB. A plain PDF is reported as not being a structured e-invoice.

Why is my CII invoice not checked against Peppol rules?

Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 is defined in UBL. A CII invoice is checked against the European standard EN 16931 only.

Is my file stored?

No. It is analysed in memory and then discarded. If you ask for the report by email, only the invoice data needed to rebuild the report is sent, then discarded too.

What do codes like BR-CO-15 or PEPPOL-EN16931-R001 mean?

They are the identifiers of the official rules: BR-… rules come from EN 16931, PEPPOL-… rules from Peppol BIS Billing 3.0. Give them to your software provider: they say exactly what to fix.

Further reading

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