Validate an electronic invoice

The correct sequence

Electronic invoicing problems are often caused by performing the right check at the wrong layer. Follow the sequence below and keep evidence from each stage.

1. 1
   Detect the document and profile

   Identify the exact jurisdiction, document type, profile and intended recipient before changing the file.

2. 2
   Run syntax and local preflight checks

   Run local, deterministic checks first so basic mapping and arithmetic defects are removed quickly.

3. 3
   Use the correct official XSD and Schematron

   Apply the current official technical artefacts or provider sandbox and capture the full machine response.

4. 4
   Confirm authority or network acceptance

   Confirm delivery, clearance or recipient status through the authoritative system and preserve the evidence.

Inputs to collect before starting

• The country, transaction type and legal entities involved
• The original structured invoice and its unmodified response
• The intended schema/profile version and delivery channel
• Sender, receiver and routing identifiers
• Authority or provider timestamps, correlation IDs and status codes

Quality controls

Completion evidence

A completed workflow should produce a small evidence pack rather than only a green screen.

• Document hash and immutable source copy
• Detected profile and validation versions
• Machine-readable validation report
• Human-readable review copy
• Official or network response when applicable
• Correction and resubmission history