EPC Payment QR code generator

What is an EPC QR Code?

An EPC (European Payments Council) QR code encodes SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) payment data in the standardised format defined by the European Banking Authority. When scanned by a banking app that supports the EPC standard, the transfer details — beneficiary name, IBAN, BIC, amount, and payment reference — are filled automatically. The account holder simply confirms and the SEPA transfer is initiated. No manual data entry, no IBAN transcription errors, no wrong references.

The EPC QR code standard (also called the SEPA QR code or "GiroCode" in Germany) is officially adopted across the European Union and EEA. It is built into the mobile banking apps of major European banks in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, France, and elsewhere. Accountants and finance teams increasingly include EPC QR codes on invoices to accelerate payment processing.

How to Create an EPC QR Code with QR Code Monkey

This generator generates EPC QR codes that comply with the official EPC069-12 specification.

Step 1: Enter the Beneficiary Details

Select the EPC Payment tab. Enter the beneficiary name (your name or company name as registered with your bank), IBAN, BIC/SWIFT code, payment amount in EUR, and a payment reference or remittance information. The reference field is critical for payment reconciliation — use your invoice number or a unique identifier so you can match incoming transfers to the correct invoice.

Step 2: Design the Code

For invoice use, keep the design clean and professional — black on white or your brand colour scheme. The code should be legible at the size it will be printed on a document, typically no smaller than 3cm × 3cm on an A4 invoice page.

Step 3: Download and Include on Invoices

Download as PNG for digital invoices (PDF or email) or SVG for print invoices. Place the code on the payment section of your invoice alongside the payment details, and label it clearly as "Scan with your banking app to pay."

Where EPC QR Codes Are Used

Freelancers and small businesses across Europe include EPC QR codes on PDF invoices to reduce the friction of manual IBAN entry for clients. Belgian tax forms (tax-on-web) now include EPC QR codes for payment. German utilities and telecommunications companies include the GiroCode on paper bills. Austrian e-government services use EPC QR codes on financial notices. Charities across the EU display EPC codes on donation materials for banking-app-native donations.

B2B payment teams use EPC codes to standardise accounts payable workflows — scanning the invoice QR code populates the bank transfer form automatically, reducing data entry time and payment errors at scale. For any organisation sending and receiving invoices within the SEPA zone, EPC QR codes are a straightforward productivity improvement.

Best Practices for EPC QR Codes

Always include the payment reference field. Without it, incoming SEPA transfers appear in your bank account without clear attribution, making reconciliation a manual and error-prone process. Use a consistent reference format — typically the invoice number — and ensure it matches the reference shown in the text of the invoice.

Test with at least two banking apps before deploying. While the EPC standard is widely supported, implementation quality varies slightly between bank apps. Major banks in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands have very reliable EPC support. Apps from smaller banks may have more limited scanning functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries support EPC QR codes?

EPC QR codes are the official SEPA payment initiation standard across all EU member states and EEA countries. Active adoption varies — Germany (GiroCode), Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, and Luxemburg have the highest banking app support. Support continues to expand as SEPA banks update their mobile applications in line with the EPC standard.

Can EPC QR codes transfer currencies other than EUR?

The EPC SEPA Credit Transfer standard processes EUR transactions within the SEPA zone. For non-EUR currencies or international transfers outside SEPA, a different payment method is required. SEPA covers 36 European countries but is EUR-denominated only.

Is an EPC QR code the same as a GiroCode?

Yes. GiroCode is the German-market name for the EPC QR code standard. The underlying data format and scanning functionality are identical. QR codes generated by This generator are compatible with both the European EPC standard and the German GiroCode standard used by Sparkasse, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, and other German banks.

What happens if the scanning bank does not support EPC QR codes?

If the banking app does not support the format, scanning will either produce an error message or show the raw text data. Always provide the full payment details (IBAN, BIC, amount, reference) in plain text on the invoice alongside the QR code so payers can complete the transfer manually if needed.

EPC QR Codes in Invoice Workflows

EPC QR codes from This generator comply with the EPC069-12 standard published by the European Payments Council. The generator validates IBAN format, enforces the correct data field ordering, and uses the standardised service tag and version identifier required by compliant banking apps. The output is tested against the GiroCode specification used by German banking applications.

For accounting software users and finance teams, This generator can be used as a standalone QR code generator that integrates into your existing invoice production workflow. Generate the EPC QR code for each invoice using the invoice amount and reference number, download as PNG, and insert it into your invoice PDF template before sending. This manual workflow, while less automated than accounting software with built-in EPC support, gives you full design control over the QR code appearance within the invoice layout.

Can I use an EPC QR code for non-EUR SEPA currencies?

The EPC SCT (SEPA Credit Transfer) standard processed by EPC QR codes is Euro-denominated. There is no official EPC QR standard for non-EUR SEPA currencies. For payments in GBP, SEK, CHF, or other non-EUR European currencies, use a standard bank transfer reference or a URL QR code linking to your preferred payment platform.