Both the quality and the type of transmission will determine the turnaround time for the invoice as it is processed through our internal operations. 

It is important to comply with the SBB invoice format to optimise this process and ensure that the invoice amount is paid as agreed. Please send us the invoice digitally as a PDF file and refrain from sending paper invoices.

Please use the correct billing address each time you send your invoices:

Transmitting invoices as a PDF file:

• Send your invoice directly to: rechnung@sbb.chLink opens in new window.
• Make sure you are able to receive responses at the sender address from our processing operations and ensure this e-mail address does not send out automatic replies when messages are received.
• Your e-mail may not be encrypted.
• Only one invoice in PDF format may be attached to each e-mail. In addition, a separate payment slip in PDF format (without extra information) may be attached. 
• The attached invoice must have been digitally created. Photos, TIFs, JPEGs, etc., that have been converted to PDF files cause errors in the text recognition and may therefore be rejected as defective during processing.
• Any additional text in the e-mail is not processed and does not form part of the invoice.
• The name of the PDF file must not include special characters (|“<>?*/ :\).
• The invoice meets SBB’s content-related requirements for invoices (see ‘content-related requirements’ section).

Transmitting invoices by post:

• Please avoid using paper clips, staples, etc.
  
• Do not enclose any other information sheets, brochures or advertising with the invoice.
• Additional written information concerning the invoice or extra open item lists sent will not be processed.

   

The following requirements must be observed to enable further processing in our invoicing procedure. We reserve the right to reject / return the invoice if there are any deviations from these requirements.

It must be possible to retrieve the following information from the first page:

• Name and full address of the invoice recipient.
• Name and full address of the supplier (incl. e-mail).
• SBB order number (ten digits) – as indicated on the order if the invoice concerns an order. If you do not have an order at hand, please enter the SBB e-mail address of the business customer/client.
• Place and date the invoice is issued.
• Unique invoice number as an assignment element for the receipt of payment.
  
• Exact designation of the delivery and/or service.
• Date of the delivery and/or service.
• Invoice amount and currency.
• Payment deadline (pursuant to CO, 30 days net).
• Payment details including the account holder (IBAN).
• VAT amount, incl. VAT number and VAT rate.
• Additional account assignment information, if provided by the sold-to party.

The invoice must also meet the following requirements:

• If the invoice relates to an order, the supplier must match the recipient of the order. An invoice with a supplier / creditor that does not match will not be processed. 
• Background colour, background logos and watermarks, etc., should be avoided.
• Mandatory information must be clearly identifiable. Decorative lettering, colour printing, colourful shading (e.g. highlighting) and handwritten amendments should be avoided.
• The necessary tax information must be displayed on the invoice in accordance with the most recent version of the VAT Act (VATA).
• The invoice should include the delivery note number and the location of the delivery or service, if this information is available. 
• Each invoice should relate only to one order exactly (no collective invoices for several orders).

There can be many different reasons why a payment has not been received by the expected date.

Before notifying us in writing about a delay in payment, you can submit a request for an invoice’s current processing status on sbb.ch/status_invoice. In most cases, you will no longer need to enter any further correspondence with us regarding the payment after submitting this request. Please also check whether the term of payment according to the contract is already due. The date of receipt of the invoice is decisive for the calculation of the payment term.

Demand notices / payment reminders are processed automatically. The status of the invoice relevant to demand notice will be investigated and the appropriate measures will be taken. If there is no invoice or if the invoice is already in the payment run, you will be notified directly by e-mail.

It is important to comply with the various requirements for the format of demand notices to optimise the processing operations and to ensure that the appropriate measures can be taken. We reserve the right to reject or return the invoice if any requirements are not met. Please send us the demand notice digitally as a PDF file and refrain from sending paper invoices.

• Before generating the demand notice, please check that we have already received the invoice: to the invoice status request.
• Send your demand notice directly to: mahnung@sbb.chLink opens in new window.
• If the e-mail address above is entered in the “cc” or “bcc” fields, the demand notice will not be processed.
• Make sure you are able to receive responses at the sender address from our processing operations and ensure this e-mail address does not send out automatic replies when messages are received.
• Your e-mail may not be encrypted.
• Only one demand notice in PDF format may be attached to each e-mail.
• Additional (written) information concerning the demand notice will not be processed.
• The demand notice meets SBB’s content-related requirements for demand notices (see ‘content-related requirements’ section).
• The attached demand notice was created digitally. Photos, TIFs, JPEGs, etc., that have been converted to PDF files cause errors in the text recognition and may therefore be rejected as defective during processing.
  
• Any additional text in the e-mail is not processed and does not form part of the demand notice.
• A copy of the invoice can be attached to the demand notice in PDF format.
• The name of the PDF file must not include special characters (|“<>?*/ :\).
  

Please use the correct billing address for your invoices and demand notices:

• Please avoid using paper clips, staples, etc.
• Do not enclose any other information sheets, brochures or advertising with the demand notice.

The following requirements must be met to enable further processing in our processing operations. 

It must be possible to retrieve the following information from the first page:

• Level of demand notice for all items in the subject (e.g: 1st reminder).
• Full address of the supplier.
• Contact information (e-mail) of the supplier for return queries about the demand notice.

The demand notice must also meet the following requirements:

• Invoice number (identical to the invoice) for each dunned invoice.
• Open invoice amount (identical to the invoice) for each dunned invoice.
• Background colour, background logos and watermarks, etc., should be avoided.
• Mandatory information must be clearly identifiable. Decorative lettering, colour printing, colourful shading (e.g. highlighting) and handwritten amendments should be avoided.