How to define Customer Number and Invoice Number

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This page explains how to correctly define the length and format of the Customer number and the Invoice number when invoicing with Banana Accounting Plus.

Important: Correctly setting the Customer number and the Invoice number is essential, especially if you issue Swiss QR invoices and want to automatically record payments. Both numbers are included in the reference number on the QR slip and are used to automatically link imported payments to the related invoices.

This setting applies to:

Customer number

The Customer number is the identifier of the customer in accounting (subaccount or cost center). In QR invoices, it is also used to automatically record payments of the invoices.

Customer number format for QR invoices

In QR invoices, the customer number is included in the reference number. For this reason, it must follow specific rules, which vary depending on the type of account used (IBAN or QR-IBAN) and the type of reference number chosen.

  • QR Invoice with IBAN account:
    • Only numbers or letters are allowed (A‑Z, 0‑9).
    • Spaces, separators, or other characters (-, /, #, etc.) are not allowed.
      If you insert separators or other characters, they will be removed from the invoice printout and may cause problems in automatically recording payments.
    • Customer number + Invoice number ≤ 19 characters.
      The two numbers together must not exceed 19 characters. It is recommended to keep the Customer number to a maximum of 7 characters.
  • QR Invoice with QR-IBAN:
    • Only digits (0–9) are allowed.
    • No spaces, letters, separators or other characters (-, /, #, etc.). If you insert separators or other characters, they will be removed from the invoice printout and may cause problems in automatically recording payments.
    • Maximum length 7 digits.
    • Customer number + Invoice number: together must not exceed 14 digits.

Customer number format for invoices without QR

For invoices without QR, there are no constraints regarding the format of the customer number. Best practices apply.

Best practices for customer numbers

  • Uniqueness: each customer must have a unique number.
  • Consistency: use a fixed scheme (e.g. 1000001, 1000002, etc.).
  • Compatibility: if you plan to issue QR invoices with both standard IBAN accounts and special QR-IBAN accounts, or switch from IBAN to QR-IBAN, use only numbers.

Invoice number

The Invoice number uniquely identifies the invoice (mandatory). In QR invoices, it is also used to automatically record payments.

Invoice number format for QR invoices

In QR invoices, the invoice number is included in the reference number. For this reason, it must follow specific rules, which vary depending on the type of account used (IBAN or QR-IBAN) and the type of reference number chosen.

  • QR Invoice with IBAN account:
    • Only numbers or letters are allowed (A‑Z, 0‑9).
    • Spaces, separators, or other characters (-, /, #, etc.) are not allowed. If you insert separators or other characters, they will be removed from the invoice printout and may cause problems in automatically recording payments.
    • Customer number + Invoice number: ≤ 19 characters.
      The two numbers together must not exceed 19 characters. It is recommended to keep the Customer number to a maximum of 7 characters.
  • QR Invoice with QR-IBAN:
    • Only digits (0–9) are allowed.
    • No spaces, letters, separators, or other characters (-, /, #, etc.). If you insert separators or other characters, they will be removed from the invoice printout and may cause problems in automatically recording payments.
    • Maximum length 7 digits.
    • Customer number + Invoice number: together must not exceed 14 digits.

Invoice number format for invoices without QR

For invoices without QR, there are no constraints regarding the invoice number. Best practices apply.

Best practices for invoice numbers

  • Uniqueness: each invoice must have a unique number.
  • Consistency: use a fixed scheme (e.g. year+progressive: 2500001, 2500002, etc.).
  • Compatibility: if you plan to issue QR invoices with both standard IBAN accounts and special QR-IBAN accounts, or switch from IBAN to QR-IBAN, use only numbers.

 

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