E-invoice validators report findings with codes such as BR-CO-10 or PEPPOL-EN16931-R001. Prefixes help identify the ruleset, such as EN 16931, XRechnung or Peppol. Klarbon reports findings from the checks it runs, with explanations and fixes where the catalogue has them. Passing those checks is technical validation, not a guarantee of recipient acceptance; warnings do not block it.
Where do the codes come from?
| Prefix | Ruleset | Source |
|---|---|---|
BR-, BR-CO-, BR-S- and similar |
EN 16931 business rules | EN 16931 artefacts |
BR-DE- |
XRechnung, Germany | KoSIT |
PEPPOL-EN16931- |
Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 | OpenPeppol |
| other national prefixes | national specifications, such as BR-FR- for France, BR-NL- for the Dutch NLCIUS or BR-RO- for Romania |
the national owner |
A schema error, reported before any rule, means the XML itself is not well formed or uses an element the syntax does not allow.
Rulesets
The rule catalogue groups guidance by ruleset, including EN 16931, XRechnung, Peppol BIS Billing, Factur-X and ZUGFeRD, NLCIUS, French BR-FR rules and Romanian CIUS-RO. Catalogue coverage is not a list of checks available in Klarbon. Supported NLCIUS declarations select its rules; French national rules require explicitly selecting France, not a French seller address. These checks are in beta. CIUS-RO checking is not available. Findings link to rule pages where the catalogue has them; not every finding has an explanation, field mapping or fix.
What should I do with an error?
- Check the file with Check an e-invoice to review findings from the checks it runs, with guidance where available.
- If you made the invoice, correct it in your software and export again, or use Fix a rejected e-invoice.
- If you received it, ask the sender for a corrected invoice; changing someone else's invoice yourself makes it a different document.
See why e-invoices are rejected for the most common causes.
Related
EN 16931 (UBL) (184 rules)
- BR-01 The invoice must say which standard it follows
- BR-02 Invoice number is required
- BR-03 Issue date is required
- BR-04 Invoice type code is required
- BR-05 Invoice currency is required
- BR-06 Seller name is required
- BR-07 Buyer name is required
- BR-08 Seller postal address is required
- BR-09 Seller country code is required
- BR-10 Buyer postal address is required
- BR-11 Buyer country code is required
- BR-12 Sum of line net amounts is required
- BR-13 Total without VAT is required
- BR-14 Total with VAT is required
- BR-15 Amount due is required
- BR-16 The invoice needs at least one line
- BR-17 Name the payee when someone else is paid
- BR-18 Tax representative name is required
- BR-19 Tax representative address is required
- BR-20 Tax representative country is required
- BR-21 Line number is required
- BR-22 Line quantity is required
- BR-23 Unit of measure is required
- BR-24 Line net amount is required
- BR-25 Item name is required
- BR-26 Item net price is required
- BR-27 The item net price cannot be negative
- BR-28 The item gross price cannot be negative
- BR-29 The invoicing period cannot end before it starts
- BR-30 A line period cannot end before it starts
- BR-31 Amount of a discount on the whole invoice is required
- BR-32 VAT category of the discount is required
- BR-33 Reason for a discount on the whole invoice is required
- BR-36 Amount of a charge on the whole invoice is required
- BR-37 VAT category of the charge is required
- BR-38 Reason for a charge on the whole invoice is required
- BR-41 Amount of a line discount is required
- BR-42 Reason for a line discount is required
- BR-43 Amount of a line charge is required
- BR-44 Reason for a line charge is required
- BR-45 Taxable amount is required
- BR-46 VAT amount per rate is required
- BR-47 VAT category code is required
- BR-48 Every VAT breakdown row needs a VAT rate
- BR-49 Payment means code is required
- BR-50 A credit transfer needs an account number
- BR-51 Never show the full card number on an invoice
- BR-52 Document reference is required
- BR-53 Give the VAT total in the VAT accounting currency
- BR-54 Item attributes need a name and a value
- BR-55 Preceding invoice number is required
- BR-56 Tax representative VAT number is required
- BR-57 Delivery country is required
- BR-61 Payment by transfer needs an account number
- BR-62 The seller's electronic address needs a scheme
- BR-63 The buyer's electronic address needs a scheme
- BR-64 An item standard identifier needs a scheme
- BR-65 An item classification needs a scheme
- BR-AE-01 Reverse-charge items need a matching VAT breakdown entry
- BR-AE-02 Reverse-charge lines need both VAT numbers
- BR-AE-03 Reverse-charge invoice discounts need both VAT numbers
- BR-AE-04 Reverse-charge invoice charges need both VAT numbers
- BR-AE-05 Reverse-charge items must have a VAT rate of 0 (line)
- BR-AE-06 Reverse-charge items must have a VAT rate of 0 (discount)
- BR-AE-07 Reverse-charge items must have a VAT rate of 0 (charge)
- BR-AE-08 The AE taxable amount must match the lines
- BR-AE-09 VAT in category AE must be 0
- BR-AE-10 Reverse charge needs the reverse charge note
- BR-CL-01 The document type code must be a valid invoice or credit note code
- BR-CL-03 Amounts must carry a valid currency code
- BR-CL-04 The invoice currency must be a valid ISO 4217 code
- BR-CL-05 The VAT accounting currency must be a valid ISO 4217 code
- BR-CL-06 The VAT point date code must be 3, 35 or 432
- BR-CL-07 The invoiced object scheme must come from UNTDID 1153
- BR-CL-08 A note subject code must come from UNTDID 4451
- BR-CL-10 Party identifiers must use an ISO 6523 scheme
- BR-CL-11 Legal registration numbers must use an ISO 6523 scheme
- BR-CL-13 The item classification scheme must come from UNTDID 7143
- BR-CL-14 Address country codes must be valid ISO 3166-1 codes
- BR-CL-15 The item's country of origin must be a valid ISO 3166-1 code
- BR-CL-16 The payment means code must come from UNTDID 4461
- BR-CL-17 VAT categories of the breakdown, discounts and charges must come from UNCL 5305
- BR-CL-18 VAT categories of invoice lines must come from UNCL 5305
- BR-CL-19 Allowance reason codes must come from UNTDID 5189
- BR-CL-20 Charge reason codes must come from UNTDID 7161
- BR-CL-21 The item standard identifier scheme must come from ISO 6523
- BR-CL-22 VAT exemption reason codes must come from the VATEX list
- BR-CL-23 Units of measure must come from UN/ECE Recommendation 20 or 21
- BR-CL-24 Attachments must be PDF, PNG, JPEG, CSV, XLSX or ODS
- BR-CL-25 Electronic address schemes must come from the EAS list
- BR-CL-26 The delivery location scheme must come from ISO 6523
- BR-CO-03 Use either a VAT point date or a VAT point date code, not both
- BR-CO-04 Every invoice line needs a VAT category
- BR-CO-05 Allowance reason code and text must match
- BR-CO-06 Charge reason code and text must match
- BR-CO-07 Line discount reason code and text must match
- BR-CO-08 Line charge reason code and text must match
- BR-CO-09 VAT numbers must start with a country code
- BR-CO-10 Sum of line amounts must equal the lines
- BR-CO-11 Sum of invoice discounts must equal the discounts
- BR-CO-12 Sum of invoice charges must equal the charges
- BR-CO-13 Net total must equal lines minus discounts plus charges
- BR-CO-14 VAT total must equal the VAT per category
- BR-CO-15 Total with VAT must equal net total plus VAT
- BR-CO-16 Amount due must equal total with VAT minus paid plus rounding
- BR-CO-17 VAT per category must be the taxable amount times the rate
- BR-CO-18 The invoice needs a VAT breakdown
- BR-CO-19 An invoicing period needs a start or end date
- BR-CO-20 A line period needs a start or end date
- BR-CO-21 Each invoice discount needs a reason
- BR-CO-22 Each invoice charge needs a reason
- BR-CO-23 Each line discount needs a reason
- BR-CO-24 Each line charge needs a reason
- BR-CO-26 The seller must be identifiable
- BR-DEC-24 Line discount amount: at most two decimals
- BR-E-01 Exempt items need a matching VAT breakdown entry
- BR-E-02 VAT-exempt lines need your VAT number
- BR-E-03 VAT-exempt invoice discounts need your VAT number
- BR-E-04 VAT-exempt invoice charges need your VAT number
- BR-E-05 Exempt items must have a VAT rate of 0 (line)
- BR-E-06 Exempt items must have a VAT rate of 0 (discount)
- BR-E-07 Exempt items must have a VAT rate of 0 (charge)
- BR-E-08 The E taxable amount must match the lines
- BR-E-09 VAT in category E must be 0
- BR-E-10 Exempt VAT needs an exemption reason
- BR-G-01 Exports outside the EU need one G entry in the VAT breakdown
- BR-G-02 Exports outside the EU need your VAT number
- BR-G-03 Exports outside the EU need your VAT number (discount)
- BR-G-04 Exports outside the EU need your VAT number (charge)
- BR-G-05 Exports outside the EU must have a VAT rate of 0 (line)
- BR-G-06 Exports outside the EU must have a VAT rate of 0 (discount)
- BR-G-07 Exports outside the EU must have a VAT rate of 0 (charge)
- BR-G-08 The G taxable amount must match the lines
- BR-G-09 VAT in category G must be 0
- BR-G-10 Category G needs an exemption reason
- BR-IC-01 Intra-community supplies need one K entry in the VAT breakdown
- BR-IC-02 Intra-community supplies need your VAT number and the buyer's
- BR-IC-03 Intra-community supplies need your VAT number and the buyer's (discount)
- BR-IC-04 Intra-community supplies need your VAT number and the buyer's (charge)
- BR-IC-05 Intra-community supplies must have a VAT rate of 0 (line)
- BR-IC-06 Intra-community supplies must have a VAT rate of 0 (discount)
- BR-IC-07 Intra-community supplies must have a VAT rate of 0 (charge)
- BR-IC-08 The K taxable amount must match the lines
- BR-IC-09 VAT in category K must be 0
- BR-IC-10 Category K needs an exemption reason
- BR-IC-11 Intra-community supplies need a delivery date or period
- BR-IC-12 Intra-community supplies need the delivery country
- BR-O-01 Amounts not subject to VAT need one O entry in the VAT breakdown
- BR-O-02 Amounts outside VAT cannot carry VAT numbers
- BR-O-03 Amounts outside VAT cannot carry VAT numbers (discount)
- BR-O-04 Amounts outside VAT cannot carry VAT numbers (charge)
- BR-O-05 Amounts outside VAT have no VAT rate (line)
- BR-O-06 Amounts outside VAT have no VAT rate (discount)
- BR-O-07 Amounts outside VAT have no VAT rate (charge)
- BR-O-08 The O taxable amount must match the lines
- BR-O-09 VAT in category O must be 0
- BR-O-10 Category O needs an exemption reason
- BR-O-11 An invoice outside VAT can have only one VAT breakdown entry
- BR-O-12 On an invoice outside VAT, every invoice line must be category O
- BR-O-13 On an invoice outside VAT, every discount must be category O
- BR-O-14 On an invoice outside VAT, every charge must be category O
- BR-S-01 Standard-rate items need a matching VAT breakdown entry
- BR-S-02 Standard-rate lines need your VAT number
- BR-S-03 Standard-rate invoice discounts need your VAT number
- BR-S-04 Standard-rate invoice charges need your VAT number
- BR-S-05 Standard-rate items need a VAT rate above zero (line)
- BR-S-06 Standard-rate items need a VAT rate above zero (discount)
- BR-S-07 Standard-rate items need a VAT rate above zero (charge)
- BR-S-08 The S taxable amount must match the lines
- BR-S-09 Standard-rate VAT must be taxable amount times rate
- BR-S-10 No exemption reason in category S
- BR-Z-01 Zero-rated items need a matching VAT breakdown entry
- BR-Z-02 Zero-rated lines need your VAT number
- BR-Z-03 Zero-rated invoice discounts need your VAT number
- BR-Z-04 Zero-rated invoice charges need your VAT number
- BR-Z-05 Zero-rated items must have a VAT rate of 0 (line)
- BR-Z-06 Zero-rated items must have a VAT rate of 0 (discount)
- BR-Z-07 Zero-rated items must have a VAT rate of 0 (charge)
- BR-Z-08 The Z taxable amount must match the lines
- BR-Z-09 VAT in category Z must be 0
- BR-Z-10 No exemption reason in category Z
- UBL-CR-073 Do not add an attachment to the receiving advice reference
- UBL-CR-152 Do not include a room element in the seller's address
- UBL-CR-260 Leave the buyer's power of attorney out
EN 16931 (CII) (4 rules)
XRechnung 3.0 (UBL) (47 rules)
- BR-DE-1 An XRechnung must contain payment instructions
- BR-DE-2 Seller contact is required
- BR-DE-3 Seller city is required
- BR-DE-4 Seller postcode is required
- BR-DE-5 Seller contact name is required
- BR-DE-6 Seller contact phone is required
- BR-DE-7 Seller contact email is required
- BR-DE-8 Buyer city is required
- BR-DE-9 Buyer postcode is required
- BR-DE-10 Delivery city is required
- BR-DE-11 Delivery postcode is required
- BR-DE-14 XRechnung needs a VAT rate in every VAT breakdown row
- BR-DE-15 Buyer reference (Leitweg-ID) is required
- BR-DE-16 A taxable invoice needs the seller's VAT or tax number
- BR-DE-17 Use an invoice type code XRechnung expects
- BR-DE-18 Early payment discount terms must follow the XRechnung format
- BR-DE-19 A SEPA credit transfer needs a valid IBAN
- BR-DE-20 A SEPA direct debit needs a valid IBAN
- BR-DE-21 The specification identifier should be the XRechnung one
- BR-DE-22 Attached files must have different file names
- BR-DE-26 A corrected invoice should refer to the invoice it corrects
- BR-DE-27 The seller's phone number should contain at least three digits
- BR-DE-28 The seller's email address should be well formed
- BR-DE-30 Creditor identifier is required
- BR-DE-31 Account to be debited is required
- BR-DEX-01 Attached document must use an allowed file type
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R001 A Peppol invoice must name its business process
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R005 The VAT accounting currency must differ from the invoice currency
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R008 The invoice must not contain empty elements
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R010 The buyer's electronic address is required
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R020 The seller's electronic address is required
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R040 A percentage discount or charge must add up
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R041 A percentage needs a base amount
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R042 A base amount needs a percentage
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R043 The charge indicator must be true or false
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R044 No charges on the item price
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R046 The net price must equal gross price minus price discount
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R053 Only one tax total with a VAT breakdown
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R054 One tax total in accounting currency when a tax currency is given
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R055 Both VAT totals must have the same sign
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R061 A direct debit needs a mandate reference
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R101 Line document references may only be invoiced objects
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R110 A line period must start within the invoicing period
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R111 A line period must end within the invoicing period
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R120 The line amount should equal quantity times price, plus charges, minus discounts
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R121 The price base quantity must be above zero
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R130 The price base quantity must use the same unit as the quantity
Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (invoice) (9 rules)
- DE-R-028 Seller contact email address should be well formed
- DK-R-014 A Danish seller's company registration number must use scheme 0184
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R002 At most one invoice note, unless both parties are German
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R003 Give a buyer reference or a purchase order reference
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R004 The specification identifier must be the Peppol BIS one
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R007 The business process must be an approved Peppol process
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R051 All amounts must be in the invoice currency
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R080 At most one project reference on the invoice
- PEPPOL-EN16931-R100 At most one invoiced object per line
Factur-X 1.09 MINIMUM (1 rule)
Factur-X 1.09 BASIC WL (2 rules)
Factur-X 1.09 BASIC (2 rules)
Factur-X 1.09 EN 16931 (1 rule)
Factur-X 1.09 EXTENDED (3 rules)
SI-UBL 2.0 / NLCIUS (invoice) (1 rule)
France CTC (UBL invoice) (11 rules)
- BR-FR-03_BT-2 Invoice issue date must be a real date in 2000 to 2099
- BR-FR-09_BT-29 Seller SIRET must have 14 digits and start with the SIREN
- BR-FR-30_AVV AVV object identifier on a line must not be empty
- BR-FR-BD-02_BT-47 S9, B9 and M9 invoices need a GROUP line for the buyer
- BR-FR-CO-10_EXT-FR-FE-69-2 Use each scheme only once for the seller's agent
- BR-FR-CO-14_BT-29-1 A seller in a VAT group (0231) needs the TXD note
- BR-FR-DEC-01_BT-111 Total VAT in accounting currency must be a valid 2-decimal amount
- BR-FR-DEC-04_BT-119 VAT breakdown rates must be a valid positive number
- BR-FR-MV-01_EXT-FR-FE-163 Every line of a multi-seller invoice needs a line sub-type
- BR-FR-MV-03_EXT-FR-FE-177 Each GROUP line needs the seller's country code
- BR-FR-MV-14-EXT-FR-FE-136 Group lines on corrective invoices need the earlier invoice number
CIUS-RO UBL Invoice 1.0.9 (3 rules)
Frequently asked questions
What does an error code like BR-CO-10 mean?
It names a business rule. BR rules come from the European standard EN 16931; BR-CO rules are calculation and consistency checks. BR-CO-10 says the sum of the line amounts must equal the invoice's line total.
How can I tell which ruleset an error comes from?
By the prefix. BR- rules are EN 16931, BR-DE- are XRechnung, PEPPOL-EN16931- are Peppol BIS, and other national rule sets have their own prefixes.
What is the difference between an error and a warning?
An error, or fatal finding, makes the invoice invalid and usually leads to rejection. A warning points to something unusual that does not make the file invalid.
Sources
- OpenPeppol, Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 rules docs.peppol.eu
- Connecting Europe, EN 16931 validation artefacts github.com
- XStandards Einkauf (KoSIT), XRechnung xeinkauf.de