Payments
EPC QR code: SEPA transfers by scanning
Customers copy IBANs by hand, swap digits, forget the invoice number – and you end up hunting for the payment. An EPC QR code on the invoice fixes that: the banking app scans it and fills in beneficiary, IBAN, amount and reference automatically. Here is how to create one and what the standard requires.
Enter beneficiary and IBAN, add amount and invoice number – the QR Code Generator validates the IBAN and creates a code that follows the EPC standard. No upload.
Create an EPC QR codeThe short version
- In the QR Code Generator, choose EPC payment.
- Enter beneficiary and IBAN – the IBAN is checked for typos immediately.
- Optionally add amount and reference (e.g. the invoice number).
- Save as PDF, SVG or PNG and put it on the invoice.
What is an EPC QR code?
The EPC QR code is a QR code with standardized content for SEPA credit transfers. The format was defined by the European Payments Council (EPC) in guideline EPC069-12. In German-speaking countries it is widely known as GiroCode.
When the payer scans the code with their banking app, a pre-filled transfer opens. They check the details and confirm as usual. The code does not trigger a payment – it just saves typing. It is supported by most banking apps in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands and by many apps in other SEPA countries. It only works for payments in euros.
No account, no fees, no expiry. The code contains only your payment details in plain text. No payment provider sits in between, and the code works as long as the account exists.
Step by step
- Choose the type. In the QR Code Generator, click EPC payment.
- Beneficiary. Enter the account holder as registered with the bank – person or company, up to 70 characters.
- IBAN. With or without spaces. The generator verifies the check digits and flags swapped digits immediately.
- BIC. Not needed within the European Economic Area and can stay empty.
- Amount. For invoices, enter the total (comma or point are both fine). For donations or open amounts, leave it empty – the payer enters the amount.
- Reference. Invoice or customer number so you can match the payment. Up to 140 characters.
- Save. SVG or PDF is ideal for invoice templates; a 1024 px PNG is fine for Word.
Enter your invoice details, save a 30 mm PDF and place it next to the invoice total.
Fields and limits
| Field | Required? | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary | Yes | 70 characters |
| IBAN | Yes | Valid IBAN of a SEPA account |
| BIC | No (within the EEA) | 8 or 11 characters |
| Amount | No | €0.01 to €999,999,999.99, euros only |
| Reference | No | 140 characters |
The generator applies two requirements automatically: the standard mandates error correction level M, and the whole content may be at most 331 bytes. That is also why no logo is possible on an EPC code – a logo would need level H. You can still change colors, shapes and frames, but a plain, dark code is the best choice for invoices.
Placing the code on an invoice
- Next to the total or in the payment instructions, not in the footer.
- Size: at least 2.5–3 cm per side. A frame saying “Scan to pay” or “Scan with your banking app” explains what it is for.
- One code per invoice. Amount and invoice number change, so every invoice needs its own code. For a fixed membership fee or donations, one code is enough.
- PDF invoices: many customers open invoices on their phone. Some banking apps can read an EPC code from a photo or screenshot in the gallery.
Safety for payers
Fraudsters stick manipulated QR codes on parking meters or send fake invoices with their own code (“quishing”). Payers should therefore check the beneficiary name and IBAN in the banking app before confirming – do they match the invoice and the sender? Since October 2025, banks in the euro area also perform a Verification of Payee check on euro transfers and warn when name and IBAN don’t match. If you issue invoices, write the beneficiary name exactly as registered with your bank.
For the curious: the content in plain text
An EPC QR code is plain text, one item per line. For an invoice of €49.90 it looks like this:
BCD
002
1
SCT
Example Ltd
DE02120300000000202051
EUR49.90
Invoice 2026-117The lines are: service tag “BCD”, version 002, character set UTF-8, transfer type SEPA Credit Transfer, BIC (empty), beneficiary, IBAN, amount, purpose code and structured reference (both empty) and the unstructured remittance information. The generator shows your code’s content under “Show encoded data”.
Create your EPC QR code
Beneficiary, IBAN, amount and reference – with IBAN validation, following the EPC standard, as PNG, SVG or PDF. Free and with no upload.
Frequently asked questions
Is the EPC QR code free?
Yes. Creating and using it is free. There is no contract, no per-payment fee and no expiry.
Which banks support EPC QR codes?
Most banking apps in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands and many apps in other SEPA countries. The feature is usually called “Scan”, “QR code” or “photo transfer”.
Does scanning send money automatically?
No. The app only fills in the transfer form. The payer checks the details and confirms the payment.
Do I need a BIC?
No, not for accounts within the European Economic Area. The generator uses version 002 of the standard, in which the BIC is optional.
Can I add a logo to an EPC QR code?
No. The EPC standard requires error correction level M, which cannot reliably carry a logo. Colors and frames are possible.
Can I leave the amount open?
Yes. Without an amount, the payer enters it – handy for donations or membership fees.
Are my bank details uploaded?
No. The code is created entirely in your browser.