Concept Definition
What is a seller reference?
A seller reference is an identifier assigned by the supplier that links an invoice to an internal system record such as a sales order, contract, or customer account. It assists the supplier in reconciling payments against invoices. In UBL, the OrderReference element carries the supplier's sales order reference.
How is seller reference carried in UBL?
UBL 2.1 provides several elements for seller references: OrderReference for the sales order number, ContractDocumentReference for contract references, and AdditionalDocumentReference for other supporting document references.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should a seller reference appear on every invoice?
- Not mandatory in most VAT frameworks, but strongly recommended for effective AR management. A seller reference enables automatic payment reconciliation when buyers include it in payment remittance advice.
- What is the difference between buyer reference and seller reference?
- A buyer reference is assigned by the buyer and must appear on the invoice for buyer processing. A seller reference is assigned by the supplier and links the invoice to the supplier's internal records. Both can appear on the same invoice.