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BR-11:Buyer country code is mandatory

The Buyer postal address (BG-8) shall contain a Buyer country code (BT-55) using ISO 3166-1 alpha-2.

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NEEDS INPUT

Requires user input: Two-letter ISO 3166-1 country code for buyer's country. Could potentially derive from country name if present in address.

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Why This Error Matters

Invoice rejected. Buyer country is mandatory for VAT determination, especially for cross-border transactions.

How to Fix It

1

Calculate sum

Sum all InvoiceLine/LineExtensionAmount values

2

Add allowances/charges

Add document-level charges, subtract allowances

3

Set element

Place in TaxExclusiveAmount with currency

Before & After Fix(BR-11)

Before (Invalid)
<cac:PostalAddress><cac:Country><cbc:IdentificationCode></cbc:IdentificationCode></cac:Country></cac:PostalAddress>
After (Valid)
<cac:PostalAddress><cac:Country><cbc:IdentificationCode>DE</cbc:IdentificationCode></cac:Country></cac:PostalAddress>

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

Code Example

<cac:LegalMonetaryTotal>
  <cbc:LineExtensionAmount currencyID="EUR">1000.00</cbc:LineExtensionAmount>
  <cbc:TaxExclusiveAmount currencyID="EUR">1000.00</cbc:TaxExclusiveAmount>
  <cbc:TaxInclusiveAmount currencyID="EUR">1210.00</cbc:TaxInclusiveAmount>
  <cbc:PayableAmount currencyID="EUR">1210.00</cbc:PayableAmount>
</cac:LegalMonetaryTotal>

Technical Details

XPath: /Invoice/cac:LegalMonetaryTotal/cbc:TaxExclusiveAmount

Common Causes

  • Customer address entered without country selection
  • Country stored as full name not ISO code
  • Export template missing buyer country code mapping
  • Domestic customers assumed to be same country
  • Country field not mandatory in source customer form

Commonly Seen In

All invoicing software

Frequently Asked Questions

The invoice must contain the sum of all line amounts before VAT (TaxExclusiveAmount).
Add TaxExclusiveAmount to LegalMonetaryTotal. You can also use Invoice Navigator's automatic Fixer tool to correct this instantly.
Yes, BR-11 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-11 can be automatically corrected using Invoice Navigator's Fixer tool. Upload your invoice and the tool will identify and fix common issues, including invoice total without vat required.
BR-11 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-12

Invoice total with VAT required

BR-13

Invoice total without VAT required

Last updated: 18 January 2026

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