What it means
The check looks for BuyerReference directly inside SpecifiedLineTradeAgreement on an invoice line (BG-25). It does not check whether the invoice-level buyer reference (BT-10) is present.
Why it matters
BT-10 identifies the buyer's reference for the invoice as a whole. A reference in the line's trade agreement does not populate that invoice-level field. This warning alone does not establish whether the recipient will accept the file.
How to fix it
Remove BuyerReference from each affected line's SpecifiedLineTradeAgreement. If you need to retain the value as BT-10, check the existing invoice-level reference and enter the appropriate value in ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement/BuyerReference. Re-export and recheck the file.
Once the file is corrected, check it again for free: Validate an invoice against EN 16931
Or fix the invoice in a form and download the corrected file, for 1 credit: Fix a rejected e-invoice
The rule as published
BuyerReference should not be present Where this rule applies
| Rule set | Version |
|---|---|
| EN 16931 (CII) | 1.3.17 |
| XRechnung 3.0 (CII) | 3.0.2 |
| NLCIUS (CII) | 1.0.3.13 |
| France CTC (CII) | 1.4.0-04 |
Check your file
Drop your e-invoice to see whether CII-SR-104 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- CII-SR-105 Remove the requester from the line's trade agreement
- CII-SR-106 Remove delivery terms from the line's trade agreement
- CII-SR-107 Keep the sales order reference at invoice level
- CII-SR-108 Keep the purchase order number at invoice level
- CII-SR-109 Remove the quotation reference from the line's trade agreement
- CII-SR-110 Keep the contract reference at invoice level