How eConnect processes receipts and till receipts: fewer fields, dummy values and why.
The IDR also processes receipts, till receipts and expense claims. These are simplified invoices with fewer fields than a regular invoice. This has consequences for what is recognised and how the e-invoice looks.
A till receipt is, according to tax authority rules, a simplified invoice. For transactions up to €100 (including VAT) a supplier is required to include fewer details on the invoice. Often the address, Chamber of Commerce number or even the full name of the supplier is missing.
However, the UBL standard requires that certain fields are always populated. An e-invoice without supplier identification is not valid. That is why eConnect more often uses dummy values for receipts: placeholder values that make the e-invoice technically valid, even when the data is missing from the receipt.
For receipts the IDR recognises a smaller set of fields than for regular invoices:
For receipts the IBAN is the leading identification field. The name on the receipt is used to identify the supplier, but the address is not considered essential. The IBAN provides the most reliable link to the correct supplier.
Because many mandatory UBL fields are missing from a receipt, more dummy values are used than for a regular invoice. Typical dummy values on receipts are the OIN dummy number for the supplier and unknown for the VAT number.
Read more about dummy values and their meaning in Dummy values in the e-invoice.
If the invoice number is missing from a receipt — which is often the case, since a simplified invoice has no invoice number as a legal requirement — the IDR pipeline automatically generates a surrogate number with the structure YYYYMMDDHHmmss-NOTFOUND. The document is not rejected but processed with a marker. Via RBE or your own systems you can intercept documents with this surrogate number for manual review.
See Recognised fields — Missing invoice number: surrogate number for the logic and how to intercept via RBE.
For receipts the IDR recognises a smaller set of fields than for regular invoices. The supplier name and IBAN, the amount, VAT and date are recognised if present. The address and Chamber of Commerce number are often missing from receipts and are then not recognised.
Many mandatory UBL fields (such as the Chamber of Commerce number or VAT number) are not on a receipt. The UBL standard requires that these fields are always populated. Dummy values ensure the e-invoice remains technically valid and can be delivered, even when the data is missing from the original receipt.
Yes, the IDR supports JPEG, PNG, BMP and PDF as file formats. Take a clear photo or scan of the receipt, preferably as soon as possible since thermal paper fades quickly. Submit each receipt as a separate file.
Want to know which fields the IDR recognises for regular invoices? Read Which fields does the IDR recognise?.
Read how to submit invoices