FAQ
Terms
What is a QR-bill?
A QR-bill is a complete invoice that contains both the invoice details and the QR payment part (previously: payment slip). The latter is the document of the QR invoice that contains the Swiss QR Code and that you need to make the payment.
What is a QR payment part?
The QR payment section is the receipt of the QR-bill (previously: payment slip), which contains the payment details both in the Swiss QR Code and as plain text. It replaces the previous red and orange inpayment slips.
What is a QR reference (QRR)?
The QR reference (QRR) is the 1:1 replacement of the previous ISR reference of the orange inpayment slip and consists exclusively of numbers. You can therefore continue to use existing ISR references with the QR bill. Please note that when using a QR reference, a QR IBAN must also be used. You can obtain this from your bank on request.
With QR Module you have the option of creating customised QR references for your customer items.
What is a QR IBAN?
The QR IBAN is a special variant of the normal IBAN. You can recognise a QR IBAN by the fact that the 5th digit always has the number 3. If a QR reference is used in a QR-bill, it must be combined with a QR IBAN. You can obtain the QR IBAN from your bank on request.
With QR Module you have the possibility to create customised QR references for your debtor items.
What is a Creditor-Reference (SCOR)?
The Creditor Reference (SCOR) is a variant of the reference number used in the euro area, which consists of numbers and letters. You can use it as an alternative to the QR reference, e.g. if you use the normal IBAN instead of the special QR IBAN. The first two digits of this reference type are occupied by the letters «RF».
What are Billing information?
Billing information refers to the standardised transmission of information from the biller to the payer, such as VAT, cash discount, invoice date, etc.
So far, only the syntax of the trade association of the ICT and online industry (Swico) exists. However, it is conceivable that other sectors will develop such syntaxes.
What is the Alternative procedure?
This is a special code line indicating that the QR-bill could be paid via an alternative method. So far, eBill is the only alternative. If the QR-bill is sent to a so-called network partner instead of directly to the payer, this partner converts the QR-bill into an eBill and forwards it to the payer instead of the QR-bill – provided the biller and bill recipient are both registered with eBill.
General questions about the QR-bill
I am happy with the orange and red inpayment slips. Why should I switch to the QR-bill?
The QR-bill is not a supplement to the previous inpayment slips, but their REPLACEMENT. You can still use the latter until 30 September 2022, after that only the QR-bill. It is mandatory that you change over.
By when do I have to switch to the QR-bill?
From 1 October 2022, only the QR-bill can be used. Plan the migration of your invoice processes early.
How do I ensure that my QR-bills or QR payment parts are correct?
You can either study the specifications of SIX Group Ltd, the process owner, or use QR Module. Validations in our processes ensure that all your QR-bills or QR payment parts are 100% correct and guaranteed to be processed at the post office counter and banks.
I use ERP software. How can I generate QR-bills with it?
The providers of ERP software solutions have already or will still switch to the QR-bill. You will have to install a corresponding update.
If you have not yet heard from your ERP provider, you should ask occasionally or – even better – switch to QR Module straight away. This will save you software installations and training efforts in the future.
What are the advantages of switching from a permanently installed ERP software to an online solution (SaaS)?
Software as a service (SaaS) has several advantages:
- No fixed installation on a specific PC: Instead, as many users as you want can access the billing processes with any device.
- No update installations: Do you know this? Whenever you want to start working, your software first requires an update. That can be done more easily.
- No complicated programme logic: The processes on QR Module are largely intuitive to use. The webinars help if anything is unclear. This saves you tedious training for new employees.
Can I or my customers pay the QR-bill at the post office counter?
Yes. The post offices have already been equipped with QR scanners.
How do I pay a QR-bill with online or mobile banking?
Almost all banks have equipped their mobile banking apps with a scanning function via smartphone camera. Thanks to the scan of the QR code, the tedious typing of payment details is no longer necessary.
Some banks also use the PC camera to scan the QR code in online banking. Not all of them, however. This is where the PayEye from Crealogix comes in, which makes scanning effortless.
In an emergency, you can also make a payment without scanning the QR code. The information can also be found in plain text on the QR payment part.
Can I print a QR-bill on normal paper?
Almost. You can print payment parts with standard printers without any problems. However, you will need perforated paper, which you can order from Schneider Druck, for example.
How do I insert the QR payment part in an invoice?
The QR payment part must always be placed at the bottom of the sheet, without spaces on the left, right or bottom. If there is no more space for the payment section on the actual invoice, it is placed on a separate page. It is not permissible to print the payment part on the back of the invoice because text blocks or images on the back of the QR payment part could interfere with scanning.
Does a reference always have to be used with a QR-bill?
No. In addition to the reference types «QR reference (QRR)» and «Creditor reference (SCOR)», the QR-bill also has the variant «no reference (NON)». In this case, the corresponding field simply remains empty.
Can messages be recorded with the QR-bill, as is the case today with the red inpayment slip?
Yes, you can now even combine messages with reference numbers in one document. What is no longer possible, however, is the subsequent, handwritten recording of messages by the payer. This affects post office counter payments and written remuneration orders. In online and mobile banking, the debtor can continue to add messages.