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Fatal: fails the selected checks

BR-55: Preceding invoice number is required

In short

BR-55 means the number of the preceding invoice (BT-25) is missing. Enter the number of the original invoice in the reference field of the credit note or corrected invoice, and export again.

On this page

What it means

Every invoice must contain the number of the preceding invoice (BT-25) in every reference to a preceding invoice (BG-3). A credit note or corrected invoice that refers to an earlier invoice must give that invoice's number.

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

Enter the number of the original invoice in the reference field of the credit note or corrected invoice, and export again. If there is no earlier invoice to refer to, remove the empty reference.

The rule as published

Each Preceding Invoice reference (BG-3) shall contain a Preceding Invoice reference (BT-25).

Business terms: BG-3, BT-25

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
Rule text from phive-rules 4.6.4.

Check your file

Drop your e-invoice to see whether BR-55 still fails, and which other rules do.