Invoices and professionals · Everyday tools
Structured payment reference: create and check a +++123/4567/89012+++
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A structured payment reference has 12 digits: 10 reference digits, then 2 check digits equal to the remainder of the first 10 divided by 97 (97 if the remainder is zero). Febelfin’s example: 0108068171 divided by 97 leaves 83, hence +++010/8068/17183+++.
The bank recognises a reference whose check digits are wrong, which prevents misallocated payments. The tool creates the reference from your invoice number or checks the one you received. Rule checked on 8 October 2026.
How the reference is built
- Take a reference of up to 10 digits (invoice or customer number) and pad it with zeros on the left.
- Divide this number by 97 and keep the remainder. If it is 0, write 97.
- Add this remainder as two digits at the end, then write the 12 digits in three groups of 3, 4 and 5 digits, between +++ (or ***).
| Reference | As 10 digits | Check | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0000000001 | 01 | +++000/0000/00101+++ |
| 2026001234 | 2026001234 | 64 | +++202/6001/23464+++ |
| 0108068171 | 0108068171 | 83 | +++010/8068/17183+++ |
| 97 | 0000000097 | 97 | +++000/0000/09797+++ |
Check a reference you received
Recalculate the remainder of the first 10 digits: it must equal the last two. A single typo, or two swapped digits, is almost always detected. A valid reference may still not be the right one, though: compare it with the one on the invoice.
Create or check a structured payment reference
Enter your reference to create the payment reference, or paste a reference to check it.
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Frequently asked questions
What do OGM and VCS stand for?
OGM stands for ‘overschrijving met gestructureerde mededeling’, in Dutch, and VCS for ‘virement à communication structurée’, its French equivalent. Both refer to the same 12-digit format.
Can I use any number as a reference?
Yes, from 1 to 10 digits. Choose a unique reference per invoice: that is what lets the payment received be matched automatically.
Why does my bank reject a reference?
Most often, the two check digits do not match the first ten because of a typo. Check it here and, if it comes from an invoice, ask the issuer for the right one.
What next?
- Check an IBANThe beneficiary account, before you pay.
- Check an enterprise numberThe supplier’s CBE or VAT number.
- Late payment interestIf the payment does not arrive on time.
- Accountant’s toolboxThe seven everyday calculations: VAT, interest, payment reference, IBAN, CBE, deadlines, depreciation.
Sources
Parameters in force on 1 October 2026. Each parameter links to its source, the official one where it exists; a secondary source is flagged as such.
- Standard AOS1 ‘Structured Remittance Information OGM-VCS’, version 1.2 (27 July 2017), Febelfin.