XRechnung validation errors explained

Where the messages come from

An e-invoice is checked against fixed rules: the European standard EN 16931 (rules BR-… and BR-CO-…), the German XRechnung rules (BR-DE-…) and some rules from the Peppol network (PEPPOL-EN16931-…). The official KoSIT validator reports every violation with the rule's code. Errors lead to rejection, warnings do not, but should still be fixed. The detailed pages, with causes, fixes and the UBL/CII fields, are in German.

Mandatory XRechnung details

• BR-DE-15 – Buyer reference (Leitweg-ID) missing
  Every XRechnung needs a buyer reference (BT-10). For authorities it is the Leitweg-ID; for companies usually their order or customer number. Details (German)
• BR-DE-5 – Seller contact person missing
  XRechnung requires a seller contact (BT-41) with phone (BT-42) and email (BT-43). Enter a person or a department such as “Accounts”. Details (German)
• BR-DE-27 – Phone number with fewer than three digits
  The seller's phone number (BT-42) is empty or a placeholder. Enter the full number, e.g. +49 30 1234567. Details (German)
• PEPPOL-EN16931-R010 – Buyer electronic address missing
  XRechnung 3.0 needs an electronic address for the buyer (BT-49) with a scheme ID, usually their invoice email with schemeID “EM”. Details (German)
• PEPPOL-EN16931-R020 – Seller electronic address missing
  Your own electronic address (BT-34) is missing, usually your invoice email with schemeID “EM”. Details (German)
• BR-DE-TMP-32 – Delivery date or service period missing
  Warning: the invoice should state the delivery date (BT-72) or a service period (BG-14). Details (German)

Tax and identifiers

• BR-CO-26 – Seller identifier missing
  The buyer can't identify you automatically: add your VAT ID (BT-31), company registration number (BT-30) or your supplier number at the customer (BT-29). A German tax number alone is not enough. Details (German)
• BR-DE-16 – Seller VAT ID or tax number missing
  When VAT categories such as S, E or AE are used, the invoice must contain your VAT ID (BT-31) or tax number (BT-32). Details (German)
• BR-S-02 – Standard rate without seller VAT identifier
  Lines with standard-rated VAT require your VAT ID or tax number. Details (German)
• BR-CO-09 – VAT ID without country prefix
  VAT IDs must start with the two-letter country code, e.g. DE123456789 (Greece: EL). Details (German)

Payment

• BR-DE-23-a – Credit transfer without bank details
  Payment means 30 or 58 (credit transfer) requires the IBAN (BG-17). Details (German)
• BR-DE-30 – Direct debit without creditor ID
  A SEPA direct debit needs the creditor identifier (BT-90). Details (German)
• BR-CO-25 – Amount due without due date or payment terms
  If an amount is due, state a due date (BT-9) or payment terms (BT-20). Details (German)
• BR-DE-18 – Early payment discount in the wrong format
  Skonto must be written in BT-20 exactly like #SKONTO#TAGE=14#PROZENT=2.00# followed by a line break. Details (German)

Calculation rules

• BR-CO-10 – Sum of line items does not match
  BT-106 must equal the sum of all line net amounts (BT-131), to the cent. Details (German)
• BR-CO-13 – Invoice net total does not match
  Net total (BT-109) = sum of lines − document-level allowances + charges. Details (German)
• BR-CO-14 – Total VAT does not match
  Total VAT (BT-110) must equal the sum of the VAT amounts per rate (BT-117). Details (German)
• BR-CO-15 – Gross total is not net plus VAT
  Total with VAT (BT-112) = total without VAT (BT-109) + total VAT (BT-110). Details (German)
• BR-CO-16 – Amount due does not match
  Amount due (BT-115) = total with VAT − prepaid amount + rounding amount. Details (German)
• BR-CO-17 – VAT per rate rounded incorrectly
  Calculate VAT per rate from the sum of net amounts, then round to two decimals; don't round per line. Details (German)

Format and identifier

• BR-DE-21 – XRechnung version identifier does not match
  Warning: BT-24 should be urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#compliant#urn:xeinkauf.de:kosit:xrechnung_3.0. Details (German)
• BR-DE-17 – Invoice type code not allowed
  Warning: XRechnung allows 380, 381, 384, 389, 326, 875, 876 and 877 only. Details (German)
• BR-DE-22 – Attachments with the same file name
  Every embedded attachment needs a unique file name. Details (German)