What it means
In a UBL invoice or credit note, the format check applies to each referenced invoice number (BT-25) at cac:BillingReference/cac:InvoiceDocumentReference/cbc:ID. It permits only the unaccented letters A to Z in upper or lower case, the digits 0 to 9 and the symbols + - _ /, with no spaces. The official message speaks of alphanumeric characters, but an accented or special letter such as É or ß fails the check.
Why it matters
The reference identifies an earlier invoice, and the French e-invoicing rules restrict the characters it can contain. Resolving a format problem should not introduce an inaccurate invoice reference.
How to fix it
Compare cac:BillingReference/cac:InvoiceDocumentReference/cbc:ID with the number on the original invoice. Correct transcription errors and remove extra text or spaces only if they are not part of that number. Do not replace characters in the original number simply to pass this check. If that number contains a disallowed character, ask your software supplier how to resolve the reference. Check your corrected file again.
Once the file is corrected, check it again for free: Check an e-invoice
The rule as published
L'identifiant de facture référencée (cbc:ID) contient des caractères non autorisés. Valeur actuelle : " … ". Seuls les caractères alphanumériques et les symboles + - _ / sont autorisés, sans espaces. Where this rule applies
| Rule set | Version |
|---|---|
| France CTC (UBL invoice) | 1.4.0-04 |
| France CTC (UBL credit note) | 1.4.0-04 |
Check your file
Drop your e-invoice to see whether BR-FR-01_BT-25-2 still fails, and which other rules do.