Swiss QR-Bill - What Is It and Upcoming Deadlines 2022

The Swiss QR-Bill is a new standard for electronic payments in Switzerland starting on October 1, 2022. It will replace the orange and red payment slips currently used in Switzerland. The QR-Bill will contain a QR code that smartphones and other electronic devices can read.

As of September 30, 2022, all orange and red payment slips (orange ISR / red IS) will be permanently invalid. Banks or other financial institutions will no longer process these slips. All payments made after this date must be made with a QR-Bill.

The Swiss QR-Bill is meant to simplify payments and make them more secure. It will also reduce the risk of errors when making payments.

In this article, we will explain:

What the Swiss QR-Bill is
The timeline for its rollout
How it will work, including contents and generation, and
Its advantages

What is the QR-bill in Switzerland?

The QR-bill is a new standard meant to modernize and simplify electronic payments in Switzerland. It's set to replace the current orange and red payment slips on October 1, 2022. The QR-bill will contain a unique QR code for every QR-bill that smartphones and other electronic devices can read.

The Swiss QR-Bill will transform how payments are currently made in the country. QR-bills will make paying bills quicker, easier, and more secure. The QR code will also allow for more accurate payments and reduce the risk for human error.

QR-bill introduction timeline

The introduction of the QR-bill in Switzerland is part of a larger plan to phase out traditional paper payment methods gradually. The QR-bill will first be introduced on October 1, 2022, becoming the only valid payment method in the country.

The Swiss QR-code was introduced on June 30, 2020, and has been a popular payment method. Two years later, Switzerland will be phasing out orange and red payment slips, and the QR-bill will be the only valid payment method.

This transition will enable Switzerland to move towards a cashless society and reduce the country's environmental impact. The QR-bill will also make it easier for businesses to accept customer payments.

How the QR-Bill works

The Swiss QR-Bill is a QR code-based payment slip that contains all the necessary information for a successful transaction. The payer will generate the QR code, which will be read by the payee's smartphone or other electronic devices.

Generating a QR-Bill is simple, and there are two ways to do this:

1. Using a Swiss Bank Account

You can create one if your company has a Swiss bank account. When you manually enter the payment details, the QR code will be automatically generated. All Swiss document types have the Swiss QR-code extraction enabled by default.

2. Using an electronic invoicing provider

You can use an electronic invoicing provider if you prefer a more automated solution or do not have a Swiss bank account. This option involves less manual input and can be more convenient for businesses that frequently send invoices.

An e-invoicing provider will generate the QR code and include it in the PDF of the invoice. The payee is responsible for scanning the QR code and making the payment. The advantages of using an e-invoicing provider are that it is more efficient and can save time.

You don't need to input the data manually; most providers will offer autofill features that can populate the fields for you.

When the Swiss QR-Bill comes into effect, e-invoicing providers will become more popular as they offer a more straightforward payment method. A good example is Storecove, an ISO-certified e-invoicing provider that can generate secure QR codes for you. Despite not having a specific solution for e-invoicing in Switzerland, the experts in this organization can build a customized solution for your business needs upon request.

The QR-Bill can be paid in two ways:

1. By scanning the QR code with a smartphone or other electronic device

2. By entering the QR code into a payments app

Every QR-Bill includes the following information:

Name and address of the payee
Amount to be paid
Currency
IBAN of the payee
Reference number

The payee's information will be automatically populated when the QR code is read. The payer can then review the information and confirm the payment. This will ensure that the payment is made to the correct payee and for the correct amount. If there are discrepancies, one of the parties can cancel the payment and generate a new QR-Bill.

How to replace payment slips with QR-bills

If you're a business owner, you can start using QR-bills by replacing your payment slips with QR-bills. When a customer makes a payment, they will scan the QR code on the bill, and the payment is then processed automatically.

You can also use QR-bills to make payments online. You will get the option to pay with a QR-bill. Simply select this option and follow the instructions on the screen.

Advantages of QR-bills

QR-bills offer many advantages over traditional payment methods for both businesses and customers. They are faster, more convenient, and more secure.

Some of the advantages of QR-bills include:

Advantages of QR-bills for issuers

Issuers, or businesses, can generate QR-bills for their customers quickly and easily.

This offers several advantages, such as:

Reduced costs

Businesses will no longer need to print and mail paper invoices. They can send or display QR-bills electronically, saving on printing and postage costs. The only cost to businesses will be the QR-bill processing fee, which is typically much lower than the cost of paper invoices.

Other reduced costs include those associated with billing mistakes, such as late fees and penalties. With QR-bills, businesses can be sure that payments are processed correctly and on time.

Improved customer satisfaction

Customers will appreciate the convenience of QR-bills. They can make payments quickly and easily without fumbling around with paper bills, improving customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The convenience of QR-bills will lead to more customers purchasing from businesses that accept them. If your customers are happy, they're more likely to make repeat purchases.

Increased security

QR-bills are more secure than paper invoices. They can't be lost or stolen, and they can't be tampered with. This reduces the risk of fraud and identity theft.

Some transactions are considered high risk when using orange and red payslips since they can be duplicated and reused. The QR-bill eliminates this risk by generating a unique QR code for each transaction.

Improved efficiency

QR-bills are more efficient than paper invoices. They can be processed automatically, which eliminates the need for manual data entry. This saves businesses time and money.

QR-bills can also be processed in real time, meaning businesses will receive payments faster. The faster companies receive payments, the more cash they have on hand to reinvest in their business. This increases efficiency and helps companies to grow.

Advantages of QR-bills for recipients

Payers, or customers, can use QR-bills to make payments quickly and easily. When making a payment, they simply need to scan the QR code on the bill. This offers several advantages, such as:

Convenience

QR-bills are more convenient than paper invoices. There's no need to search for a payee's bank details or account number. The payee can make the payment with just a few clicks.

Customers can also save their QR-bill as a profile picture when paying online. This makes it even easier to make future payments, as they won't need to enter their bank details each time.

Security

The payee's information is encrypted in the QR code, so it can't be intercepted or stolen. This reduces the risk of fraud and identity theft.

The payee's information is also verified when the QR code is scanned. This ensures that the payment is made to the correct payee and for the correct amount.

Privacy

QR-bills offer more privacy than paper invoices. The payer's information is not visible to the payee. This protects the payer's personal and financial information and prevents businesses from using it for marketing purposes.

This is a huge advantage for customers who are concerned about their privacy. QR-bills will revolutionize the payments industry and make it easier and safer for everyone to make and receive payments.

How can you prepare for the change?

The Swiss government has said that, from October 1, 2022, every business must be able to accept and generate QR-bills with a QR-code that matches the QR-bill header information. So, if you're a business owner, you must ensure that you're prepared for the change.

To be prepared, you need to:

Understand the requirements

The first step is to understand the requirements. You need to know what information you will need to include in the QR code and how you should format it.

Get a QR-code generator

The next step is to get a QR-code generator. There are two ways to generate a QR-code in Switzerland:

1. Use a QR-code generator from a provider that the Swiss government approves.

2. Use a Swiss bank that automatically generates a QR-code for you when you create a new QR-bill.

If you're using a QR-code generator from an approved provider, you'll need to register with the provider and create an account. They will then provide you with a solution that generates a QR-code for every QR-bill you generate.

Wrapping Up

QR-bills are the future of payments in Switzerland. If you're a business owner, you must ensure that you're prepared for the change. You can do this by understanding the requirements and finding a way to generate QR-codes that meet those requirements.

QR-bills are more efficient than paper invoices. They can be processed automatically, eliminating the need for manual data entry. This will help businesses in Switzerland save time and money. In addition, QR-bills are more convenient for customers and offer more security and privacy.

Now is the time to start if you're not already using QR-bills. Storecove can help you make the transition. One of our electronic invoicing experts, Christian Land, is handling requests for building the QR-bill solution for our customers in Switzerland. Get in touch with him today to learn more about how Storecove can help you prepare for the transition.

More information on Swiss QR-Bill?

Call us on: +31 (0) 20 261 17 91 or send an e-mail to: helpdesk@storecove.nl

Read also: