How to add an EPC (European Payments Council) or Open Banking QR code to a printed or digital invoice.

What's a Payment QR Code?

A QR code on your invoice that, when scanned with a smartphone, pre-fills a bank transfer form with your account details and the invoice amount.

Client sees invoice for £1,500. Instead of manually entering your Sort Code, Account Number, and amount, they:

Open their phone camera
Point at the QR code
Tap the notification
Bank app opens with transfer pre-filled: "Pay £1,500 to Invoice123"
They tap "Confirm" and it's sent

Total time: 30 seconds. Payment speed increases dramatically.

Two Types of Payment QR Codes in the UK

Type 1: EPC QR Code (EUR/SEPA Standard)

Stands for "European Payments Council." Encodes your bank details in a standardised format. Works across Europe and is starting to gain adoption in the UK.

What it contains:

Your IBAN
Your BIC (Business Identifier Code)
Beneficiary name (your name)
Amount (optional)
Reference (invoice number)
Description

Best for: B2B invoices to companies with SEPA-compatible banking (most large UK firms)

Type 2: Open Banking QR Code (UK Specific)

Specific to UK Open Banking standards. Encodes your Sort Code and Account Number in a format UK banks recognise.

What it contains:

Sort Code (XX-XX-XX)
Account Number
Amount
Reference (invoice number)

Best for: UK SME and consumer invoicing (most accessible to ordinary UK bank customers)

Which QR Code Should You Use?

Short answer: Open Banking QR (UK) unless you export to Europe.

Most UK business bank accounts display a Sort Code and Account Number (not IBAN). Open Banking QR codes are simpler for UK customers. If you invoice European clients, use EPC QR codes (which also work in the UK via SEPA).

How to Add a QR Code to Your Invoice

Option 1: Use Invoice Software With Built-In QR

Modern invoice generators like InvoiceForged, Xero, Square Invoices, and HoneyBook generate QR codes automatically. When you create an invoice, the software:

Reads your bank details from your profile
Generates the correct QR code (Open Banking or EPC)
Embeds it in the PDF at the bottom

Takes zero extra effort on your part.

Option 2: Generate QR Code Separately

If your invoice software doesn't offer QR codes, you can:

Use a QR code generator (qr-code-generator.com, goqr.me, etc.)
Enter your payment details (Sort Code, Account, Amount, Reference)
Generate the QR code image
Download as PNG
Insert the PNG into your PDF invoice template in Word or InDesign

QR Code Best Practices

Size and Placement

QR codes should be:

At least 1 cm × 1 cm for reliable scanning with modern phones
Placed in the bottom-right corner of the invoice (doesn't interfere with main content)
With clear space around it (don't place directly next to other elements)
Not scaled down too small — 2 cm × 2 cm is ideal

Testing

Before sending invoices to clients:

Open your phone camera
Point at the QR code
Does the notification appear?
Tap it — does it open a payment app with your details pre-filled?

If not, regenerate the QR code and test again.

Add a Fallback

Not every customer will use QR codes. Always include traditional payment instructions below the QR:

PAY VIA QR CODE (above) or manually:
Sort Code: XX-XX-XX
Account Number: XXXXXXXX
Account Name: Your Name
Reference: INV-001

Will Your Client's Bank Support It?

UK High Street Banks

Open Banking QR support:

Barclays: ✓ (upcoming)
HSBC: ✓
Lloyds: ✓
NatWest: ✓
Santander: Limited
TSB: Limited
Metro Bank: ✓

Digital/Mobile Banks:

Revolut: ✓
Wise: ✓
Starling: ✓
Monzo: ✓
Chase: ✓

EPC QR support: Most banks across Europe and UK (growing adoption)

What If They Don't Support QR?

No problem. Customers fall back to manual entry. Your QR code doesn't hurt — it's just an extra option.

Real-World Impact on Payment Speed

A case study from a UK accountancy firm:

Before QR codes: Average payment time 45 days, 15% of invoices unpaid after 60 days
After adding QR codes to invoices: Average payment time 12 days, 5% unpaid after 30 days

The QR code doesn't change the due date, but it removes friction. A customer who sees "Pay Now via QR" and can scan and pay in 30 seconds is more likely to pay immediately.

HMRC Compliance

QR codes don't affect invoice compliance. HMRC requires:

Invoice number ✓
Date ✓
Your name and address ✓
Customer details ✓
Description ✓
Amount and VAT ✓

A QR code is an optional enhancement, not a requirement. Adding one doesn't create compliance issues.

Privacy Considerations

A QR code encodes your bank details. Anyone who can scan the QR code can see:

Your Sort Code
Your Account Number
Your Name

These details are already visible on your invoice (required by HMRC). A QR code doesn't expose anything new. However:

Don't email invoices unencrypted — QR codes don't change this rule
Printed invoices with QR codes: Safe; anyone with access can scan, but that's someone in the client's office (trusted)
Posting invoices publicly online: Risky; anyone could scan your QR code and have your payment details

FAQ

Can I change the payment details in the QR code per invoice?

Yes. Modern invoice software generates a unique QR for each invoice with the invoice-specific amount and reference. This is automatic.

Do customers have to scan the QR code?

No. The QR is optional. Your traditional payment instructions must remain visible.

What if I change my bank account?

You'll need to regenerate QR codes for future invoices. Old invoices with the old QR code won't break — the customer can still pay manually or try the QR (which may fail, then they use manual instructions).

Can I use the same QR code on every invoice?

Technically yes, but it's not recommended. Each invoice should have a QR code with the unique invoice number and amount baked in. This allows automatic payment matching and reduces confusion.

Make payments instant. InvoiceForged automatically generates QR codes on every invoice — no setup needed. Try free (3 invoices per week).

Using QR Codes on Invoices for Instant Payments