Anyone who issues invoices in Switzerland can no longer avoid the QR-bill. Since 1 October 2022, the familiar red and orange payment slips are history - payment transactions now run via the Swiss QR Code. For freelancers and SMEs, this means: if you still work with old templates, you risk that your invoices can no longer be paid.
This article explains what the QR-bill is, how the payment part is structured, how the QR-IBAN differs from a normal IBAN - and how to create a correct QR-bill in just a few steps. Status: 2026.
What is the QR-bill?
The QR-bill is the Swiss standard for paying invoices. Its core element is the Swiss QR Code - a square code with the Swiss cross in the middle that contains all payment-relevant information in a structured form: payee, IBAN, amount, currency, reference and payer.
Instead of typing in the details by hand, the payer scans the code in their e-banking or banking app - and all fields are filled in automatically. This reduces typing errors, speeds up payment and makes automatic reconciliation easier for the invoice issuer. The standard is operated by SIX on behalf of the Swiss financial centre (Swiss Payment Standards).
The QR-bill replaced the orange (ESR) and red payment slips in 2020. After a transition period, the old slips have no longer been processed by the banks since 1 October 2022.
Is the QR-bill mandatory?
There is no legal obligation to use a payment slip at all - you may also send an invoice with just the IBAN and payment details in the text. However, as soon as you use a payment part with a payment slip, it must be a QR-bill. The old ESR procedures no longer exist.
In practice, this means: anyone who regularly issues invoices to customers and values clean, automatic payment reconciliation cannot avoid the QR-bill. In parallel, eBill is gaining importance - the fully digital invoice that lands directly in the customer's e-banking.
Structure: payment part and receipt
The QR-bill is printed at the bottom of the invoice (A4 format, detachable along a perforation). It consists of two parts:
Receipt (left)
The narrow left-hand column. It contains Account/Payable to (IBAN and payee address), the reference, Payable by (the payer's address) as well as the currency and amount. The receipt stays with the payer as proof.
Payment part (right)
The wider right-hand part with the Swiss QR Code in the middle. It repeats all payment details in plain text and contains an optional "Additional information" field (e.g. invoice number, payment purpose) as well as the field for messages.
The data contained in the Swiss QR Code
The payee's IBAN or QR-IBAN, the payee's name and address (payment recipient), the amount and currency (CHF or EUR), the reference (QR reference or Creditor Reference), the payer's name and address, and an unstructured message. The amount may be left blank (e.g. for donations).
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QR-IBAN, IBAN and the three reference types
A common pitfall: which account number and which reference belong in the QR-bill? There are three permitted variants - and the choice determines how your payments are reconciled.
1. QR-IBAN with QR reference
The QR-IBAN is a special IBAN, recognisable by the QR-IID in the range 30000 to 31999 (digits 5 to 9 of the IBAN). It must be combined with a QR reference - a structured number with 27 digits (26 digits plus a check digit). This corresponds to the former ESR reference and enables fully automatic reconciliation of the payment to the invoice. Ideal for anyone who issues many invoices.
2. Normal IBAN with Creditor Reference (SCOR)
With your ordinary IBAN you can use a Creditor Reference based on the international standard ISO 11649 (begins with "RF"). It also allows structured reconciliation, but is internationally oriented.
3. Normal IBAN without reference
The simplest variant: your normal IBAN with no reference at all. Here a message in the "Additional information" field (e.g. the invoice number) helps so that you can reconcile the payment manually. Perfectly sufficient for a few invoices per month.
QR-IBAN and normal IBAN are not the same and not interchangeable. A QR reference only works with the QR-IBAN, a Creditor Reference only with the normal IBAN. You will find your QR-IBAN in your e-banking or can request it from your bank - it is not assigned automatically.
Creating a QR-bill: 4 ways
You do not need to buy a printer for special forms - the QR-bill is printed on ordinary white paper. Here is how you create it:
- Accounting or invoicing software: programs such as Bexio, Banana, Abacus or Sage generate QR-bills automatically. The most convenient route when you have a regular invoice volume.
- Your bank's e-banking: most banks and PostFinance offer a QR-bill generator directly in e-banking - handy for individual invoices.
- Online QR generators: free tools generate the payment part as a PDF that you attach to your invoice.
- Template + QR generator: a professional Word or Excel template with all mandatory details, supplemented by the generated payment part. Full control over layout and branding.
Test your first QR-bill by scanning the code yourself in your e-banking. This way you immediately see whether the IBAN, amount and reference are picked up correctly - before you send it to a customer.
Common mistakes with the QR-bill
- Mixing up QR-IBAN and normal IBAN: a QR reference with a normal IBAN (or vice versa) leads to the payment being rejected.
- Wrong check digit in the reference: the QR reference ends with a check digit (modulo 10, recursive). Manually created references without a correct check digit are not accepted.
- Payment part scaled or shifted: the payment part has fixed dimensions (105 x 210 mm). If it is reduced or repositioned, it can no longer be cleanly detached or scanned.
- Forgetting the invoice's mandatory details: the QR code does not replace the substantive mandatory details of the invoice (see checklist).
- VAT/UID number missing: if you are liable for VAT, the VAT/UID number must appear on the invoice - the QR code alone is not enough.
Checklist: mandatory details of an invoice
The payment part only governs the payment. The invoice itself additionally needs the following details to be legally correct:
- Name and address of the invoice issuer and the customer
- Unique invoice number and invoice date
- Description of the service or delivery
- Amount net and gross
- If liable for VAT: VAT/UID number, tax rate (VAT, standard rate 2026: 8.1%) and tax amount
- Clear payment deadline (a specific date)
- IBAN or QR-IBAN and matching reference
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Frequently asked questions
Is the QR-bill mandatory in Switzerland?
Yes, as soon as you use a payment slip. Since 1 October 2022, the old red and orange payment slips are no longer processed. An invoice with just the IBAN in the text (without a payment part) remains permitted.
What is the difference between a QR-IBAN and a normal IBAN?
The QR-IBAN has a QR-IID in the range 30000 to 31999 and must be used with a 27-digit QR reference. The normal IBAN is used without a reference or with a Creditor Reference (ISO 11649).
Can I create a QR-bill myself?
Yes - via accounting software, your bank's e-banking, online generators or a template combined with a QR generator. What matters is the correct layout and the right IBAN/reference combination.
Does a QR-bill always have to show an amount?
No. The amount field may be left blank, for example for donations or variable amounts. For normal customer invoices, however, a fixed amount is recommended.
Sources
- Swiss Payment Standards (QR-bill, SIX): six-group.com - QR-bill
- Information for invoice issuers: einfach-zahlen.ch
- QR-bill at PostFinance: postfinance.ch
- VAT obligation & tax rates: FTA - Value Added Tax