Up until the introduction of the QR-bill on June 30, 2020, two different deposit slip standards were used in Switzerland. These are the orange inpayment slip (ISR) and the red inpayment slip (IS).
The orange inpayment slip continues to be used after June 20, 2020, over an indefinite interim period.
Orange inpayment slips explained:
- Abbreviated form: ISR
- Orange colored, as its name indicates.
- Includes a reference number which enables automated processing.
- Does not include a field for the purpose of payment like the red inpayment slip does, as the reference number makes this unnecessary.
- Suitable for merchants which send out large volumes of bills thanks to automated processing.
- There are two versions of the ISR:
- BESR: Bank deposit slip with a reference number for payment into a bank account.
- VESR: Postal deposit slip with a reference number for payment into a postal account.
Fields included on the orange inpayment slip:
- Account: The number of the account which will receive the deposit.
- Amount: The amount to be deposited, in Swiss francs and centimes.
- Currency: The currency in which the deposit will be paid. If you do not enter the correct currency, banks may charge foreign transaction fees.
- Reference number: This tracking number allows the payment to be processed automatically. When you use online banking, you do not have to enter the zeros preceding the other digits.
If you use online banking with eBills, all of these fields are filled out automatically in your online banking portal.
Making payments with ISRs at Swiss post offices:
You are not charged any fees when you pay bills at post offices using orange inpayment slips. However, the recipient (the merchant billing you) is charged fees for the service, and these fees are relatively high in relation to the amounts transacted. Some companies pass on these fees to customers.
More on this topic:
QR-bill FAQ
