Understanding the Swiss QR-Bill
Learn about the Swiss QR-Bill payment standard, how it works, and why it makes getting paid faster and easier.
The Swiss QR-Bill is the standard payment slip format in Switzerland since 2022. This guide explains what it is and how billli generates compliant QR-Bills automatically.
What is a QR-Bill?
A QR-Bill is a standardized payment slip that includes a QR code containing all payment information. It replaced the old orange and red payment slips (Einzahlungsscheine) in Switzerland.
Key Components
Every QR-Bill contains two sections:
-
Payment Part (left side)
- Recipient's account (IBAN)
- Recipient's name and address
- Amount (can be left open)
- Currency (CHF or EUR)
- Payment reference
-
Receipt (right side)
- Confirmation copy for the payer
- Same information as payment part
Why QR-Bills?
The QR-Bill standard offers significant advantages:
For Your Clients
- No typing - Scan the QR code with their banking app
- No errors - Payment details are pre-filled automatically
- Fast payment - Complete payment in seconds
- Universal - Works with all Swiss banks
For Your Business
- Faster payments - Clients pay sooner when it's easy
- Accurate reconciliation - Unique references match payments to invoices
- Professional appearance - Modern, standardized format
- Compliance - Meets Swiss legal requirements
Studies show QR-Bills reduce payment time by an average of 3-5 days compared to manual payment entry.
How Clients Pay
When your client receives an invoice with a QR-Bill:
Open Banking App
The client opens their Swiss banking app (any bank works).
Scan QR Code
They use the app's QR scanner to scan the code on the invoice.
Review Details
All payment details appear automatically—amount, recipient, reference.
Confirm Payment
One tap to confirm and the payment is on its way.
Payment References
billli uses structured references (QR-Reference) that comply with the Swiss standard:
RF18 5390 0754 7034
These references are:
- Unique - Each invoice has its own reference
- Traceable - Appears in your bank statements
- Automated - Generated automatically by billli
The QR-Reference makes bank reconciliation much easier. See Bank Reconciliation to learn how to match payments automatically.
QR-Bill Requirements
For a valid QR-Bill, you need:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Swiss IBAN | Must start with CH or LI |
| Account Holder | Name exactly as on bank account |
| Currency | CHF or EUR only |
| Amount | Optional (can be left blank) |
| Address | Complete address for payee |
billli validates all these requirements automatically when you set up your banking details.
QR-Bill in billli
Every invoice you create in billli includes a compliant QR-Bill:
Automatic Generation
- billli generates the QR code when you create an invoice
- The payment slip is embedded in the invoice PDF
- All formatting follows Swiss SIX standards
Preview Before Sending
Always preview your invoice to check the QR-Bill:
- Verify the amount is correct
- Confirm your banking details appear properly
- Check the payment reference
PDF Format
The QR-Bill appears at the bottom of your invoice PDF:
- Perforated line for easy separation
- Correct dimensions (210 × 105 mm)
- High-contrast QR code for reliable scanning
Common Questions
Can clients still pay manually?
Yes. The QR-Bill includes all details in text form. Clients can enter them manually if preferred, though scanning is much faster.
What if the amount changes?
You can generate QR-Bills without an amount, allowing clients to enter the amount themselves. However, for accuracy, we recommend including the amount.
Does it work for international payments?
QR-Bill is a Swiss standard for Swiss payments. For international clients, they can still use the IBAN provided, but may not be able to scan the QR code with their bank's app.