BT-2: Invoice Issue Date
The official date on which the invoice was issued.
Technical Specification
Mandatory (1..1)
Semantic data format according to European Standard EN 16931-1
What does BT-2 mean?
The invoice issue date (BT-2) specifies the date on which the invoice was issued. It determines tax liability periods and payment terms. Represented as YYYY-MM-DD in UBL and format 102 (YYYYMMDD) in CII.
Practice Context: B2B vs. B2G (Public Procurement)
Mandatory across all invoice profiles, both B2B and B2G.
XML Syntax & Code Example
<cbc:IssueDate>2026-08-27</cbc:IssueDate>Business Rules & Schematron Checks
An invoice shall have an Invoice issue date (BT-2).
Check BT-2 in your invoice
Use the XML paths above to locate BT-2. A snippet illustrates this field; it is not a complete invoice. After correcting a value in the source application, export and check the entire file again.
Official specifications and rule sets
Requirements depend on the invoice profile and version. Consult the matching specification for mandatory fields, code lists and rules; Peppol-specific requirements do not automatically apply to every ZUGFeRD invoice.
Related Business Terms (BTs)
Create compliant E-Invoices easily
Create XRechnung and ZUGFeRD invoices in Billance and check the exported file locally. Use this guide to understand BT-2 and review your invoice details before sending.