These implementation guidelines (IGs) set out the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) rules for implementing the Customer-to-Payment Service Provider (C2PSP) ISO 20022 XML message standards based on version 1.0 of the 2025 SEPA Direct Debit (SDD) Core rulebook, which enters into force on 5 October 2025.
This exceptional October entry-into-force date – deviating from the usual end of November publication - has been chosen in light of the entry into force dates of Regulation (EU) 2024/886, regarding instant credit transfers in euro, also known as the Instant Payments Regulation (“IPR”), amending Regulation (EU) 260/2012, also known as the SEPA Regulation. The same entry-into-force date has been selected for all relevant EPC schemes in order to facilitate the implementation preparation for PSPs, Clearing and Settlement Mechanisms (CSMs) and other technical service providers.
The main changes compared to the previous version are outlined in section 3 of version 1.0 of the 2025 SDD Core C2PSP IGs.
In addition, SEPA XML Schema Definitions (XSDs) related to IGs are made available. These XSD files can be accessed using a text editor (e.g. Microsoft Notepad) or an XML Schema editor.
Disclaimer: SEPA XSDs are not developed for ‘production’ purposes, they are to instantiate the business rules and restrictions contained in the implementation guidelines in a formal interchange format, sometimes referred to as Technical Validation Subsets (TVSs). Production instantiations should refer to the default ISO 20022 namespaces.