DE-R-023-2: Bank transfer payments cannot include card or direct debit data

What it means

When the seller and the buyer are both in Germany and the payment means type code (BT-81) is 30 or 58 (bank transfer), that payment instruction must not contain payment card information (BG-18) or direct debit details (BG-19). The check fails if either of those blocks is present.

Why it matters

A payment instruction should describe one way of paying. A bank transfer code combined with card or direct debit details contradicts itself, so the buyer cannot tell whether to send a transfer or to expect a charge to a card or an account. The invoice is rejected.

How to fix it

Find the payment section in your invoicing software and check which payment method is selected. If the buyer should pay by bank transfer, clear the card details and any direct debit mandate from the invoice. If you actually take payment by card or direct debit, change the payment method instead and keep only the details that belong to it.

The rule as published

Read the rule on the publisher's site

Business terms: BG-18, BG-19, BT-81

Where this rule applies