What it means
In the EN 16931 profiles of Factur-X and ZUGFeRD, this rule checks ram:CountryID under ram:BuyerTradeParty/ram:PostalTradeAddress, the buyer's postal address (BG-8). A non-empty value must be on the referenced country list. This test neither requires the element to be present nor rejects an empty value.
Why it matters
A standard country code identifies the country consistently in the buyer's structured address. This check does not determine the invoice's VAT treatment.
How to fix it
Check the country in your buyer's address and correct it in your source invoice. In the XML, use the uppercase two-letter country code in ram:BuyerTradeParty/ram:PostalTradeAddress/ram:CountryID, not a country name or three-letter code. For Greece use GR, and for the United Kingdom use GB. Export and recheck your invoice.
Once the file is corrected, check it again for free: Validate a ZUGFeRD invoice
Or fix the invoice in a form and download the corrected file, for 1 credit: Fix a rejected e-invoice Beta
The rule as published
Value of 'ram:CountryID' is not allowed. Where this rule applies
| Rule set | Version |
|---|---|
| Factur-X 1.09 EN 16931 | 1.0.9-2 |
| ZUGFeRD 2.5 EN 16931 | 2.5.2 |
Check your file
Drop your e-invoice to see whether FX-SCH-A-000568 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- FX-SCH-A-000569 The buyer's company registration scheme must use an ISO 6523 code
- FX-SCH-A-000570 The scheme of the buyer VAT number must be VA
- FX-SCH-A-000571 The scheme of the buyer electronic address must be accepted
- FX-SCH-A-000572 The sales order reference needs exactly one identifier
- FX-SCH-A-000573 The tax representative country must be a valid two-letter code
- FX-SCH-A-000574 The tax representative's VAT number needs the scheme VA