In Croatia, a 2D barcode is a two-dimensional graphic representation that contains all the necessary data for paying bills within the country. This data includes the recipient’s IBAN (which must be Croatian starting with HR), the name of the recipient, the amount, description of the payment, and the model and reference number. It is important to note that the 2D barcode is used exclusively for payment within Croatia due to the specifics of the model and reference number that are characteristic of the Croatian payment system and unknown in other European countries.
On the other hand, the QR code is the European equivalent of the Croatian 2D barcode and contains most of the information found in the 2D barcode, except for the model and reference number. Instead, the QR code contains a payment reference or purpose – a field that can be filled flexibly with numbers, letters, or a combination thereof.
In FIRA, invoices or offers in the Croatian language and with a Croatian IBAN contain a Croatian 2D barcode for fast payment, intended for customers within the country, while documents using a foreign IBAN or written in English or German contain a European QR code for fast payment, intended for customers outside Croatia.
Why do we use 2D barcode and QR code?
- They allow the recipient of the invoice to pay easily and quickly through mobile bank applications or in post offices, FINA or other shops such as Tisak.
- They ensure that the data is entered correctly, which automatically reduces the possibility of errors when copying.
- Ability to fully automate invoice payment tracking if the user links their bank account to FIRA.
FIRA can recognize payments for accounts containing a Croatian 2D barcode, including model and reference number, if the user has linked his bank account to FIRA. In this way, FIRA can automatically match the outgoing invoice with the corresponding payment and mark the invoice or offer as paid or partially paid.
In the future, we plan to expand the functionality so that FIRA can recognize payment references from the QR code, which would further improve the payment tracking process.
It is important to note that there is also a QR code on the fiscal invoices, but its purpose is not to facilitate payment as with the QR code for quick payment. Fiscal invoices have already been paid in cash or by card, and in that case the QR code is used to check whether the bill has been fiscalized, or whether it has been sent to the Tax Administration.
