diff --git a/lib/secretariat.rb b/lib/secretariat.rb
index d2cf46e..aec4498 100644
--- a/lib/secretariat.rb
+++ b/lib/secretariat.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 =end
 
 require_relative 'secretariat/version'
+require_relative 'secretariat/object_extensions'
 require_relative 'secretariat/constants'
 require_relative 'secretariat/helpers'
 require_relative 'secretariat/versioner'
diff --git a/lib/secretariat/invoice.rb b/lib/secretariat/invoice.rb
index 73c97ed..67cdb86 100644
--- a/lib/secretariat/invoice.rb
+++ b/lib/secretariat/invoice.rb
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 require 'bigdecimal'
 
 module Secretariat
+  using ObjectExtensions
+  
   Invoice = Struct.new("Invoice",
     :id,
     :issue_date,
@@ -256,7 +258,7 @@ def to_xml(version: 1, validate: true)
             end
             trade_settlement = by_version(version, 'ApplicableSupplyChainTradeSettlement', 'ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement')
             xml['ram'].send(trade_settlement) do
-              if payment_reference && payment_reference != ''
+              if payment_reference.present?
                 xml['ram'].PaymentReference payment_reference
               end
               xml['ram'].InvoiceCurrencyCode currency_code
@@ -273,7 +275,7 @@ def to_xml(version: 1, validate: true)
                 xml['ram'].ApplicableTradeTax do
                   Helpers.currency_element(xml, 'ram', 'CalculatedAmount', tax.tax_amount, currency_code, add_currency: version == 1)
                   xml['ram'].TypeCode 'VAT'
-                  if tax_reason_text && tax_reason_text != ''
+                  if tax_reason_text.present?
                     xml['ram'].ExemptionReason tax_reason_text
                   end
                   Helpers.currency_element(xml, 'ram', 'BasisAmount', tax.base_amount, currency_code, add_currency: version == 1)
diff --git a/lib/secretariat/object_extensions.rb b/lib/secretariat/object_extensions.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d81e5d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/secretariat/object_extensions.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+module Secretariat
+  module ObjectExtensions
+    refine Object do
+      # Copied from activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/object/blank.rb, line 18
+      def blank?
+        respond_to?(:empty?) ? !!empty? : !self
+      end
+
+      def present?
+        !blank?
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/secretariat/trade_party.rb b/lib/secretariat/trade_party.rb
index ae6df67..ebd1afb 100644
--- a/lib/secretariat/trade_party.rb
+++ b/lib/secretariat/trade_party.rb
@@ -15,12 +15,14 @@
 =end
 
 module Secretariat
+  using ObjectExtensions
+  
   TradeParty = Struct.new('TradeParty',
     :name, :street1, :street2, :city, :postal_code, :country_id, :vat_id, :global_id, :global_id_scheme_id, :tax_id,
     keyword_init: true,
   ) do
     def to_xml(xml, exclude_tax: false, version: 2)
-      if global_id && global_id != '' && global_id_scheme_id && global_id_scheme_id != ''
+      if global_id.present? && global_id_scheme_id.present?
         xml['ram'].GlobalID(schemeID: global_id_scheme_id) do
           xml.text(global_id)
         end
@@ -29,19 +31,19 @@ def to_xml(xml, exclude_tax: false, version: 2)
       xml['ram'].PostalTradeAddress do
         xml['ram'].PostcodeCode postal_code
         xml['ram'].LineOne street1
-        if street2 && street2 != ''
+        if street2.present?
           xml['ram'].LineTwo street2
         end
         xml['ram'].CityName city
         xml['ram'].CountryID country_id
       end
-      if !exclude_tax && vat_id && vat_id != ''
+      if !exclude_tax && vat_id.present?
         xml['ram'].SpecifiedTaxRegistration do
           xml['ram'].ID(schemeID: 'VA') do
             xml.text(vat_id)
           end
         end
-      elsif tax_id && tax_id != ''
+      elsif tax_id.present?
         xml['ram'].SpecifiedTaxRegistration do
           xml['ram'].ID(schemeID: 'FC') do
             xml.text(tax_id)
diff --git a/test/invoice_test.rb b/test/invoice_test.rb
index 91ce0eb..059eec3 100644
--- a/test/invoice_test.rb
+++ b/test/invoice_test.rb
@@ -588,5 +588,12 @@ def test_negative_de_invoice_against_schematron_2
       end
       assert_equal [], errors
     end
+
+    def test_invoice_object_extensions
+      invoice = make_de_invoice
+      xml = invoice.to_xml(version: 2)
+
+      assert_match(/<ram:PaymentReference>#{invoice.payment_reference}<\/ram:PaymentReference>/, xml)
+    end
   end
 end