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Fatal: fails the selected checks

BR-52: Document reference is required

In short

BR-52 means the reference of an additional supporting document (BT-122) is missing. Give every attached or referenced document a reference, such as "Timesheet March" or the delivery note number, and export again.

On this page

What it means

Every invoice must contain the reference of an additional supporting document (BT-122). Every supporting document listed on the invoice, such as a timesheet or delivery note, needs its own reference, for example its number or file name.

Why it matters

EN 16931, the European e-invoicing standard, makes this field mandatory. Without it the recipient's system rejects the invoice before anyone reads it, and public bodies and Peppol access points refuse it outright.

How to fix it

Give every attached or referenced document a reference, such as "Timesheet March" or the delivery note number, and export again. Remove empty attachment entries that your software or template left behind.

The rule as published

Each Additional supporting document (BG-24) shall contain a Supporting document reference (BT-122).

Business terms: BG-24, BT-122

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 EN 16931 1.0.9-2
Factur-X 1.09 EXTENDED 1.0.9-2
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
Rule text from phive-rules 4.6.4.

Check your file

Drop your e-invoice to see whether BR-52 still fails, and which other rules do.