SEPA-SCT-ID-005: Transaction reference is blank

A transaction reference (the end-to-end identification EndToEndId, the instruction identification InstrId or the creditor reference) consists of spaces only. The ISO 20022 schema accepts it, but the guidelines do not allow elements without content; use NOTPROVIDED when the end-to-end identification is not known.

Severity	BLOCKER Blocker: the run fails
Status	Recommendation, or depends on your agreement with the bank
Applies to	pain.001.001.09, SEPA Credit Transfer
Elements checked	/Document/CstmrCdtTrfInitn/PmtInf/CdtTrfTxInf/PmtId/EndToEndId · InstrId /Document/CstmrCdtTrfInitn/PmtInf/CdtTrfTxInf/RmtInf/Strd/CdtrRefInf/Ref
Source	EPC132-08 2025 Version 1.0, section 1.3 (empty elements are not allowed); 2.1.1, items 2.80, 2.81 and 2.175 · Standards and sources
Rule pack	sepa.sct.pain001.v09 v5, effective 2025-10-05

Why it matters

The end-to-end identification is passed on unchanged to the payee and used for reconciliation and returns; a blank reference is commonly rejected or leaves the payment unmatched.

How to fix it

Check the reference mapping in the payment-generation configuration; an empty source field must not be exported as spaces.

Example

Synthetic XML fragments.

Example that fails

<PmtId>
  <EndToEndId>   </EndToEndId>
</PmtId>

Corrected

<PmtId>
  <EndToEndId>E2E-INV-1001</EndToEndId>
</PmtId>

Try it with a synthetic example

These files are synthetic test data from BankLint's test corpus. Download one, or validate it directly.

End-to-end identification of spaces only: the schema accepts it, but it identifies nothing (use NOTPROVIDED). FAIL · Download · Validate it

Explained in

SEPA Credit Transfer rules for pain.001.001.09

SEPA-SCT-ID-001: Message or payment information ID violates SEPA character rules
SEPA-SCT-ID-002: Transaction reference violates SEPA character rules
SEPA-SCT-ID-003: Payment information identification used twice
SEPA-SCT-ID-004: Message or payment information ID is blank
SEPA-SCT-ID-006: Debtor-side party with more than one Other identification
SEPA-SCT-ID-007: Transaction party with more than one Other identification

Questions

What does SEPA-SCT-ID-005 check?

A transaction reference (the end-to-end identification EndToEndId, the instruction identification InstrId or the creditor reference) consists of spaces only. The ISO 20022 schema accepts it, but the guidelines do not allow elements without content; use NOTPROVIDED when the end-to-end identification is not known.

How do I fix “Transaction reference is blank”?

Check the reference mapping in the payment-generation configuration; an empty source field must not be exported as spaces.

Is this a SEPA requirement?

It is a recommendation of the EPC SEPA Credit Transfer implementation guidelines, or depends on your agreement with the bank.

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