QR-Bill Mandatory Fields: What You Can't Leave Out

Since 1 October 2022, the QR-bill is the only permitted payment slip format in Switzerland. If you still send an orange or red payment slip today, you risk your bank not processing the credit at all. Yet QR-bills are often issued with missing or incomplete information — and that costs time, patience, and sometimes real money. This article shows you exactly which fields must be filled in and where the most common gaps occur.

What is the QR section, and what goes inside it?

A Swiss QR-bill consists of two parts: the actual invoice document (paper or PDF) and the payment section with the Swiss QR code. The QR code contains structured payment information in SPS format (Swiss Payment Standards), defined by SIX Group. When scanned in e-banking or a banking app, this data is automatically imported — but only if it's complete and correct.

The mandatory fields in the Swiss QR code

The SPS standard distinguishes between mandatory and optional fields. The following information is always required:

Field	Content	Note
QR-IBAN or IBAN	Recipient account	Only QR-IBAN for QR reference
Recipient name	Name or company	Max. 70 characters
Recipient address	Street, postal code, city, country	Structured or combined
Currency	CHF or EUR	No other format
Payment amount	Numeric, 2 decimal places	Can remain blank (open)
Reference type	QR reference, SCOR, or NON	Determines the reference format

Additionally, the printed payment section below the QR code displays further information: the detachable receipt on the left, the payment section on the right, and the amount in words. These areas are standardized by SIX layout requirements — custom design is not permitted here.

QR-IBAN instead of standard IBAN: the most common mistake

If you want to use a QR reference (the 26-digit number, formerly known as ESR reference), you absolutely need a QR-IBAN. A standard IBAN is not sufficient in this case. You recognize the QR-IBAN by the institution code between positions 5–9: it contains a number between 30000 and 31999.

Conversely: if you use a structured Creditor Reference (SCOR, ISO 11649) or no reference at all (NON), a standard IBAN is sufficient — and a QR-IBAN is actually not permitted.

For most Swiss SMEs and freelancers who track their incoming payments through payment reconciliation in e-banking, the QR reference is worthwhile. Contact your bank to request a QR-IBAN; most Swiss banks issue it on request.

Recipient address: structured or combined?

The SPS standard allows two address formats:

• Structured (S): Street and house number, postal code, city, and country in separate fields.
• Combined (K): Two free address lines plus postal code/city and country.

Technically, both formats are valid. In practice, banks and software solutions prefer the structured format because it generates fewer errors during automatic processing. If your invoicing software offers both variants, choose structured.

Mandatory fields on the invoice document itself

The QR code alone does not make a legally compliant invoice. The actual invoice document must contain commercial and tax law information. This includes — independent of the QR component:

• Invoice date and invoice number (sequential, unique)
• Name and address of issuer and recipient
• Service description (What was delivered or performed?)
• Service date or period
• Amount and applied VAT rate (8.1% standard rate, 2.6% special rate for accommodation, 3.8% special rate for certain services) — if you are VAT-liable
• VAT number (in format CHE-123.456.789 VAT) for VAT-liable issuers
• Payment terms

A detailed overview of all nine mandatory specifications on Swiss invoices can be found in our Swiss invoice template — all required fields in one place — which also describes industry-specific particularities.

Optional but recommended fields

Technically optional, but practically useful:

• Message field (Unstructured message): Max. 140 characters, e.g. "Invoice No. 2026-047". Clearly visible in the payer's e-banking.
• Invoice information (Bill Information, Swico): A structured data field containing VAT information in machine-readable form. Useful if your customers use automated accounting software.
• Alternative procedures (AV parameters): For eBill or other payment infrastructures.

The Swico format is particularly worthwhile if you regularly invoice larger companies that process their creditors automatically.

Checklist before sending

Before you send the QR-bill, check these points:

• QR-IBAN present if QR reference is used
• Reference type and reference number match
• Recipient name and address complete and correct (structured format)
• Currency specified (CHF or EUR)
• Amount correct — or deliberately left blank (e.g. for open invoices)
• Layout complies with SIX specifications (payment section right, receipt left, dividing line)
• Invoice document contains all commercial and tax law mandatory specifications
• VAT number listed if VAT-liable
• Invoice number sequential and unique

If you want to create and print invoices directly in the browser, the SnapBill app automatically handles SIX-compliant QR code generation — including validation of the QR-IBAN and reference type.

Common errors and their consequences

Wrong reference type: A QR reference (26 digits) combined with a standard IBAN causes the payer's e-banking to either reject the payment or ignore the reference. Payment reconciliation fails.

Missing amount: A blank amount field is technically allowed, but often prompts questions from the payer. If you intentionally use an open amount (e.g. for cost estimates), explain this in the message field.

Layout deviations: The payment section cannot be designed arbitrarily. Custom logos, colours, or non-standard font sizes in the payment area are not permitted.

Missing VAT information: VAT-liable issuers who omit the tax rate or VAT number risk problems with their customers' input tax deduction. Learn more about Swiss VAT fundamentals in our guide to Swiss VAT basics 2026 — rates, duties and special rules.

At a glance

• The Swiss QR code contains structured payment data according to SPS standard — all mandatory fields must be completed.
• QR-IBAN is required if you use a QR reference (26-digit); for SCOR or NON, a standard IBAN is sufficient.
• The invoice document itself is additionally subject to commercial and tax law requirements: date, number, service description, VAT information.
• Layout deviations in the payment section are not permitted — adhere to SIX specifications.
• A structured recipient address and the Swico data field significantly improve processing quality for your customers.

Anyone who consistently works through this checklist avoids the most common causes of payment delays and feedback from banks or customers. On the SnapBill homepage, you will also find direct access to QR-compliant invoice creation — without software installation.