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BR-02:Invoice must have an invoice number

Every invoice must contain a unique invoice number (ID) to identify the document.

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NEEDS INPUT

Requires user input: Invoice number. Cannot be auto-generated because invoice numbers must follow your organization's numbering scheme and may have legal/sequential requirements.

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Why This Error Matters

Invoice rejected. Cannot be processed for payment or tracked in accounting systems.

How to Fix It

1

Generate invoice number

Use your invoicing system sequence or create a unique identifier

2

Add to invoice

Insert the ID element with your invoice number

3

Ensure uniqueness

The number should be unique within your organization

Before & After Fix(BR-02)

Before (Invalid)
<cbc:ID></cbc:ID>
After (Valid)
<cbc:ID>INV-2026-001234</cbc:ID>

Compare the invalid XML structure with the corrected version. The fix ensures compliance with validation rules.

Code Example

<cbc:ID>INV-2024-001234</cbc:ID>

Technical Details

XPath: /Invoice/cbc:ID

Common Causes

  • Draft invoice exported before number was assigned
  • Invoice number field empty or null in source system
  • Export template missing invoice number (ID) mapping
  • Sequential numbering system not configured in ERP
  • Manual invoice creation without assigning number

Common Causes by Software

SAP

Why this happens

Billing date not populated from sales order

How to fix it

Check billing date determination in copy control settings

Where to find it

VTFA → Billing date field mapping

QuickBooks

Why this happens

Invoice date field left empty on manual entry

How to fix it

Ensure date field is populated before export

Where to find it

Customers → Create Invoices → Date field

Using a different software?

Validate your invoice to get specific fix guidance.

Validate Your Invoice

Commonly Seen In

All invoicing software

Frequently Asked Questions

Every invoice must contain a unique invoice number (ID) to identify the document.
Add a unique invoice number to the ID element. You can also use Invoice Navigator's automatic Fixer tool to correct this instantly.
Yes, BR-02 is a critical error that will cause invoice rejection. It must be fixed before submission to ensure your invoice is accepted by the recipient's system.
Many instances of BR-02 can be automatically corrected using Invoice Navigator's Fixer tool. Upload your invoice and the tool will identify and fix common issues, including invoice must have an invoice number.
BR-02 is commonly seen in exports from All invoicing software. These software packages sometimes generate invoices that need adjustment to meet full compliance standards.

Related Errors

BR-03

Invoice must have an issue date

BR-04

Missing invoice type code

Last updated: 16 January 2026

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