What it means
A discount on the whole invoice (BG-20) has the VAT category IGIC (BT-95). The invoice must then carry the seller VAT identifier (BT-31), the seller tax registration identifier (BT-32) and/or the VAT identifier of the seller's tax representative (BT-63). One of them is enough.
Why it matters
The recipient and the tax authority need to know which registered taxpayer applied the discount and charged the tax. Without any tax number on the seller, the IGIC cannot be tied to anyone, and the invoice is rejected.
How to fix it
Enter your VAT or tax number in the seller details of your invoicing software, usually under company or business settings. If someone else invoices on your behalf as your tax representative, their VAT number in the tax representative section is enough.
The rule as published
An Invoice that contains a Document level allowance (BG-20) where the Document level allowance VAT category code (BT-95) is "IGIC" shall contain the Seller VAT Identifier (BT-31), the Seller tax registration identifier (BT-32) and/or the Seller tax representative VAT identifier (BT-63). Business terms: BG-20, BT-31, BT-32, BT-63, BT-95
Where this rule applies
| Rule set | Version |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Check your file
Drop your e-invoice to see whether BR-AF-03 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- BR-AE-03 Reverse-charge invoice discounts need both VAT numbers
- BR-AG-03 An IPSI invoice discount needs a seller tax number
- BR-E-03 VAT-exempt invoice discounts need your VAT number
- BR-IG-03 IGIC discounts need a seller VAT number or tax number
- BR-IP-03 IPSI discounts need a seller VAT number or tax number
- BR-S-03 Standard-rate invoice discounts need your VAT number