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The Swiss QR-Bill Explained: Structure, Payment & Free Tool

Since 30 September 2022, Switzerland has had just one standard for paper and PDF invoices with a payment part: the QR-bill. If you invoice clients in Switzerland as a freelancer, there is no way around it. In this article we explain what the QR-bill actually is, how it is structured, how your clients pay it – and how you can create your own QR-bill for free in just a few minutes.

What is the QR-bill?

The QR-bill (QR-Rechnung in German, QR-facture in French, QR-fattura in Italian) is the official Swiss standard for invoices with an integrated payment part. Its centrepiece is the Swiss QR Code: a square QR code with the Swiss cross in the middle that contains all the payment information – payee, IBAN, amount, currency, reference number and message.

The payment part usually sits in the bottom third of the invoice and consists of two sections:

  • The receipt (left): the smaller section, which the payer can have stamped at the post office counter.
  • The payment part (right): the larger section with the Swiss QR Code and all details in plain text.

Importantly, everything encoded in the QR code is also printed in readable form next to it. Anyone who cannot or does not want to scan the code simply types the details into e-banking by hand.

The end of the orange and red payment slips

For decades, two payment slips dominated Swiss payment traffic:

  • The orange payment slip (ESR) with a reference number, used for automated payment reconciliation.
  • The red payment slip (ES) without a reference, but with a field for a message.

The QR-bill was introduced on 30 June 2020 and ran in parallel with the old slips for a little over two years. On 30 September 2022 the transition ended for good: since then, banks and PostFinance no longer process the orange and red payment slips. The QR-bill unites both worlds in a single format – with or without a reference, with or without a message, in Swiss francs or euros.

The anatomy of the payment part

Let's take a closer look at the building blocks of a QR-bill.

The Swiss QR Code

The Swiss QR Code holds all payment data in a standardised format defined by SIX (the operator of the Swiss financial market infrastructure) in the "Swiss Payment Standards". The Swiss cross in the centre distinguishes it from ordinary QR codes and serves as its trademark.

IBAN or QR-IBAN

A QR-bill shows either a regular IBAN or a QR-IBAN:

  • The IBAN is your normal account number in international format (starting with CH or LI).
  • The QR-IBAN looks similar but contains a special QR-IID (an institution identifier between 30000 and 31999) in place of the bank clearing number. You obtain a QR-IBAN from your bank, and you only need one if you want to work with QR references.

The three reference types

The QR-bill comes in three variants, which map onto the old payment slips:

  1. QR reference: a 27-digit numeric reference, technically identical to the old ESR reference. It only works together with a QR-IBAN and suits anyone who needs to reconcile a large number of invoices automatically.
  2. Creditor Reference (SCOR): an international reference per ISO 11649 (starting with "RF"). It is used with a regular IBAN and also works in cross-border payments.
  3. No reference: the simplest variant with a regular IBAN, comparable to the old red payment slip. For matching, you can add an unstructured message (e.g. the invoice number).

For most freelancers with a modest invoice volume, the variant with a regular IBAN – with or without a Creditor Reference – is perfectly sufficient.

Amount, currency and additional information

The payment part also states the amount (in CHF or EUR), the payer's address and optional additional information. The amount may even be left blank – handy for donations, for example, where the payer fills in the amount themselves.

How your clients pay a QR-bill

One of the biggest advantages of the QR-bill: paying takes seconds. Your clients have several options:

  • Mobile banking app: scan the QR code with a smartphone, check the details, approve the payment. No typing, no typos.
  • E-banking on the computer: scan the code with a webcam or reader – or enter the plain-text details manually.
  • Post office: the QR-bill can be paid at the counter in cash or by account debit, just like the old payment slips.
  • Payment order: anyone who sends payment orders to their bank simply encloses the payment part.

For you as the invoice issuer, this means fewer queries, fewer payment errors and faster incoming payments.

Benefits for freelancers

Why is the QR-bill particularly worthwhile for the self-employed?

  • Professional appearance: a correct QR-bill signals credibility – including to large corporate clients whose accounting departments expect the standard.
  • Faster payment: the easier it is to pay, the shorter the effective payment time. One scan replaces tediously typing out an IBAN.
  • Fewer errors: the amount, IBAN and reference are taken straight from the code – transposed digits become a thing of the past.
  • Easy reconciliation: with a reference or the invoice number in the message field, you see at a glance which invoice has been paid.
  • No special paper needed: QR-bills can be printed on plain white paper or sent as a PDF by e-mail.

Create a QR-bill for free

You need neither expensive accounting software nor a subscription to create compliant QR-bills. With the free generator at gratisrechnung.ch, you create a complete QR-bill as a PDF in minutes – including a valid Swiss QR Code. A built-in AI assistant helps you fill it in: simply describe what you want to invoice, and the invoice practically fills itself out.

Create your free QR-bill now – no sign-up, no cost.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Do I need a QR-IBAN as a freelancer?

No. The QR-IBAN is only required if you want to work with the 27-digit QR reference. For most self-employed people, the regular IBAN is enough – the invoice number in the message field takes care of matching.

Can I send a QR-bill as a PDF by e-mail?

Yes. The QR-bill works equally well on paper and as a PDF. The QR code can even be scanned straight off a screen.

Are the old payment slips still valid?

No. Since 30 September 2022, the orange (ESR) and red (ES) payment slips are no longer processed by banks or PostFinance.

Can I invoice amounts in euros with a QR-bill?

Yes. The QR-bill supports both CHF and EUR.

How much does it cost to create a QR-bill?

Nothing with gratisrechnung.ch. You create your QR-bill for free, without registration, with help from an AI assistant.

Create your free QR invoice now