How to use it
- Enter the beneficiary name and IBAN; we validate the IBAN.
- Add the amount in euros (optional) and a reference such as the invoice number.
- If you use a structured creditor reference (RF…), enter that instead of free text.
- Scan it with your own banking app as a test, then add it to your invoice.
What is an EPC QR code, and who can scan it?
The European Payments Council standardized the EPC QR code as EPC069-12 to start SEPA credit transfers. It isn't money or a payment method. It just fills in the transfer form in the payer's banking app, where they check and approve it.
Banks in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland and Slovenia support it most widely, and more European banking apps and online banks add it every year. US and UK banks don't use it: they don't run on SEPA, and their apps don't read EPC codes. It's the right tool when you invoice in euros, for example to clients in Germany, Austria or the Netherlands.
The code is made in your browser, and your account details never reach a server.
What goes in the code
The standard prescribes an exact line-by-line format (version 2, UTF-8, at most 331 bytes, error correction level M). The generator produces exactly that:
| Field | Required | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary name | yes | 70 characters |
| IBAN | yes | checksum validated |
| BIC | only outside the EEA | 8 or 11 characters |
| Amount (EUR) | no | 0.01–999,999,999.99 |
| Purpose code | no | 4 capital letters (e.g. GDDS) |
| Structured reference (RF…) | no | ISO 11649, validated |
| Remittance text | no | 140 characters |
| Note to the payer | no | 70 characters |
You can use either a structured reference or free remittance text, not both. If you don't have an RF reference, put the invoice number in the remittance text.
Checks before you print
A wrong IBAN means the payment fails or goes to the wrong place. So the generator:
- validates the IBAN check digits (mod 97) and the length for each country;
- validates RF references (ISO 11649);
- enforces the field limits and the code's 331-byte maximum;
- locks error correction to level M, as the standard requires.
Before you download, two independent decoders read the code back, and we compare it byte for byte with the standard content. The final test is yours: scan it with your own banking app and check the name, IBAN and amount. You don't need to send the transfer.
On invoices, payment requests and donation pages
- Invoices and payment requests: put the code in the bottom-right corner, with the amount and the invoice number in the reference. Clients pay in one scan, with no typos.
- Donations: leave the amount out so supporters choose what to give.
- Membership fees and rent: a fixed amount and a standing reference (a member number, say).
Size: at least 1–1.2 in (2.5–3 cm) on an invoice, with a 4-module empty border around it. Go easy on styling: banking apps read plain black-on-white square modules most reliably, so the “Classic” template fits best.
The printable A6 card says “Pay by QR code” by default. You can also download a vector PDF at an exact size to drop into your invoicing template.
What an EPC code can't do
- It doesn't guarantee payment. It only fills in the form; nothing happens without the payer's approval.
- Euros only. Other currencies need other formats.
- Not every bank reads it. If your client's bank doesn't, print the IBAN and reference next to the code too.
- It can't be edited. If the amount or account changes, you need a new code.
We don't handle money, can't see payments, and aren't a payment provider: the code simply hands data to the payer's own bank.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EPC QR code the same as a GiroCode?
Yes, it's the same standard (EPC069-12). In Germany it's widely known as GiroCode.
Do US or UK banking apps read it?
No. EPC codes are for SEPA euro transfers. They work with banks in the eurozone, mostly in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and nearby countries.
Is the amount required?
No. Without one, the payer types the amount, which is handy for donations.
Do I need a BIC?
Not for SEPA transfers within the EEA; banks identify the bank from the IBAN.
Do you upload my account details?
No. The code is made in your browser.
Will the code expire?
No. It's static, but if the amount or account changes, you'll need a new code.