What it means
Every invoice must contain the payee's name (BT-59) when the payee (BG-10) is not the seller. The payee is whoever receives the payment, for example a factoring company, when that is not you.
Why it matters
The buyer's software reads the payment details to prepare the payment. When they are incomplete it cannot pay automatically, and the invoice is rejected or left waiting for someone to fix by hand.
How to fix it
If someone other than you should receive the payment, enter their full name in the payee section of the invoice. If you receive the payment yourself, remove the payee section altogether, because an empty one triggers this rule.
The rule as published
The Payee name (BT-59) shall be provided in the Invoice, if the Payee (BG-10) is different from the Seller (BG-4) Business terms: BG-4, BG-10, BT-59
Where this rule applies
| Rule set | Version |
|---|---|
| EN 16931 (UBL) | 1.3.17 |
| EN 16931 (UBL credit note) | 1.3.17 |
| EN 16931 (CII) | 1.3.17 |
| XRechnung 3.0 (UBL) | 3.0.2 |
| XRechnung 3.0 (UBL credit note) | 3.0.2 |
| XRechnung 3.0 (CII) | 3.0.2 |
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (invoice) | 2026.5 |
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (credit note) | 2026.5 |
| Factur-X 1.09 BASIC WL | 1.0.9-2 |
| Factur-X 1.09 BASIC | 1.0.9-2 |
| Factur-X 1.09 EN 16931 | 1.0.9-2 |
| Factur-X 1.09 EXTENDED | 1.0.9-2 |
| ZUGFeRD 2.5 BASIC WL | 2.5.2 |
| ZUGFeRD 2.5 BASIC | 2.5.2 |
| ZUGFeRD 2.5 EN 16931 | 2.5.2 |
| ZUGFeRD 2.5 EXTENDED | 2.5.2 |
| SI-UBL 2.0 / NLCIUS (invoice) | 2.0.3.13 |
| SI-UBL 2.0 / NLCIUS (credit note) | 2.0.3.13 |
| NLCIUS (CII) | 1.0.3.13 |
| France CTC (UBL invoice) | 1.4.0-04 |
| France CTC (UBL credit note) | 1.4.0-04 |
| France CTC (CII) | 1.4.0-04 |
| CIUS-RO UBL Invoice 1.0.9 | 1.0.9 |
| CIUS-RO UBL Credit Note 1.0.9 | 1.0.9 |
Check your file
Drop your e-invoice to see whether BR-17 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- BR-18 Tax representative name is required
- BR-19 Tax representative address is required
- BR-20 Tax representative country is required
- BR-FR-MV-11_BT-128 The main seller's sub-invoice must carry the invoice number
- BR-RO-140 Tax representative address needs a first address line
- BR-RO-150 Tax representative address needs a city