OCRnummer

OCRnummer, or OCR-number, is a payment reference used in invoicing and banking to identify a specific invoice or customer during a payment. It is typically printed on an invoice and should be entered when making a payment to enable automatic reconciliation of the transfer with the correct outstanding invoice.

Purpose and use

The main purpose of the OCR-number is to automate the matching of incoming payments with the corresponding invoice in the recipient’s accounts receivable system. This reduces manual handling, speeds up processing, and minimizes the risk of misapplied payments.

Format and scope

The OCR-number is usually a numeric string of varying length, sometimes including check digits. The exact format is defined by the issuing system or the country’s banking standards. It is commonly generated by the issuer’s accounting software and appears on the invoice in a clearly labeled field or note.

Relation to other references

In some regions, OCR-number is part of a broader set of payment references used to identify transactions. Other examples include country-specific references or KID-number systems. Banks may require the OCR-number as the payment reference to enable automatic processing.

Practical notes

If the OCR-number is not visible on an invoice, contact the issuer for the correct reference. When making a payment, enter the OCR-number exactly as shown, as inaccuracies can delay or misroute the payment. In case of errors, refer to the issuer’s remittance instructions or payment support.

See also

Payment reference, Remittance advice, Invoicing, Accounts receivable.