# PEPPOL-EN16931-R061

> Mandate reference MUST be provided for direct debit.

Checked against Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 2026.5

Canonical: https://einvoicecheck.eu/rules/peppol-en16931-r061

## Official rule text

Mandate reference MUST be provided for direct debit.

## Why did my invoice fail PEPPOL-EN16931-R061?

When the payment means is direct debit (BG-19), a Mandate reference identifier (BT-89) must be provided so the debtor and bank can link the collection to the signed SEPA mandate. Direct debit codes (e.g. UNCL4461 code 59) authorise the seller to pull funds, and the mandate reference is the legal key that permits that collection.

## Common causes

- PaymentMeans uses a direct-debit code (e.g. 59) but cac:PaymentMandate/cbc:ID is missing.
- The mandate reference was placed in a free-text note instead of the structured PaymentMandate/ID element.
- The invoice was built from a template that omits the mandate block for direct-debit payments.

## How do I fix it?

```
Add the mandate reference under PaymentMeans: <cac:PaymentMandate><cbc:ID>MNDT-2026-0042</cbc:ID></cac:PaymentMandate>.
```