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Fatal: fails the selected checks

BR-38: Reason for a charge on the whole invoice is required

In short

BR-38 means a reason for the charge (BT-104 or BT-105) is missing. Give every charge a short reason, such as "Delivery costs" or "Packaging", or choose a reason code in your invoicing software, and export again.

On this page

What it means

Every charge on the whole invoice (BG-21) must contain a reason for the charge (BT-104 or BT-105). The reason can be a text, such as "Delivery costs" or "Packaging", a code from the UNTDID 7161 list, or both.

Why it matters

Discounts and charges change the amount VAT is calculated on. The recipient needs the amount, the VAT category and the reason to book them correctly and to check that the VAT adds up.

How to fix it

Give every charge a short reason, such as "Delivery costs" or "Packaging", or choose a reason code in your invoicing software, and export again.

The rule as published

Each Document level charge (BG-21) shall have a Document level charge reason (BT-104) or a Document level charge reason code (BT-105).

Business terms: BG-21, BT-104, BT-105

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
ZUGFeRD 2.5 BASIC WL 2.5.2
ZUGFeRD 2.5 BASIC 2.5.2
ZUGFeRD 2.5 EN 16931 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
Rule text from phive-rules 4.6.4.

Check your file

Drop your e-invoice to see whether BR-38 still fails, and which other rules do.