Structured payment reference: what it is and how to make one
A Belgian structured payment reference (“gestructureerde mededeling”, “communication structurée”) is a fixed 12-digit code your client enters when paying, for example +++123/4567/89002+++. You see at once which invoice has been paid.
Why use it?
- Your bank and your accountant match the payment to the right invoice automatically.
- No more searching for payments with an unclear free-text message.
- Your client is less likely to mistype, because the bank checks the code.
How is the code built?
You choose the first 10 digits, for example based on your invoice number. The last 2 digits are check digits: the remainder of those 10 digits divided by 97. If the remainder is 0, the check digits become 97. That way the bank spots a typo.
Example: 1234567890 divided by 97 leaves a remainder of 2. So the reference becomes +++123/4567/89002+++.
How it works in Faktuno
Every invoice automatically gets its own structured payment reference. It is on the PDF and in the Peppol data, so your client’s software can use it when paying.