EN16931 Format

EN16931 is the European standard for electronic invoicing, defining the semantic data model used across the EU.

Overview

What is EN16931?

EN16931 is a semantic standard that defines:

• What information an e-invoice must contain
• How that information is structured
• Business rules for validation

It does not define the syntax (XML format). Instead, it has two syntax bindings:

Relationship to Other Formats

EN16931 is the foundation for:

When to Use EN16931

Use pure EN16931 format when:

• Trading with EU partners who require the standard
• No country-specific format is required
• Maximum interoperability is needed

Configuration

Enable EN16931

Stores >Configuration > MageB2B > E-Invoice:

1. Set Default B2B Format: EN16931
2. Set Validation Level: Standard or Strict

Syntax Selection

The extension uses CII (Cross-Industry Invoice) syntax by default, which is compatible with ZUGFeRD/Factur-X.

Generated Files

Note: in this module, credit memo generation supports ZUGFeRD and XRechnung.

Validation

EN16931 validation includes:

1. Core data model compliance
2. Business rules (BR-xx rules)
3. Country-specific rules (if applicable)

EU E-Invoicing Directive

EN16931 was created to fulfill EU Directive 2014/55/EU, which mandates:

• All EU public sector entities must accept EN16931 invoices
• Cross-border B2G invoicing uses this standard
• Member states can require additional national rules

Best Practices

1. Use for cross-border EU transactions
2. Validate against BR rules before sending
3. Consider Peppol for B2G delivery
4. Test with recipient systems

Related

• ZUGFeRD Format
• XRechnung Format