What it means
The invoice must contain a buyer reference (BT-10) or a purchase order number (BT-13). One of the two is enough, and both is also fine.
Why it matters
The buyer uses this reference to match the invoice to an order or to send it to the right person or department. With neither, the file fails the Dutch check and the invoice is rejected.
How to fix it
Ask the buyer which reference they want on the invoice. It is usually on their order or contract. Enter it in the buyer reference field (sometimes called your reference) or in the purchase order number field of your invoicing software, then export the file again.
The rule as published
For suppliers in the Netherlands, the invoice MUST contain either the buyer reference (cbc:BuyerReference) or the order reference (cac:OrderReference/cbc:ID) Where this rule applies
| Rule set | Version |
|---|---|
| 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-NL-2 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- BR-NL-3 The seller's address needs a street, a city and a postcode
- BR-NL-4 A Dutch buyer's address needs a street, a city and a postcode
- BR-NL-5 A tax representative in the Netherlands needs a full address
- BR-NL-7 Use an allowed document type code: 380, 381, 384 or 389
- BR-NL-8 The type code and the UBL layout must agree: 381 is a credit note
- BR-NL-9 A corrective invoice must refer to the invoice it corrects