errorEN 16931

BR-57:Each Deliver to address (BG-15) shall contain a Deliver to country code (BT-80)

Each Deliver to address (BG-15) shall contain a Deliver to country code (BT-80). This applies to the `cac:Address` element in the invoice XML.

Severity
Fatal
Rule set
EN 16931
Country
All EU
Fix type
INPUT REQUIRED

Engine Classification

Business data required · Explicit input workflow · No assumptions made

Required input: Allowance Reason

What is BR-57?

BR-57 is a fatal validation rule defined in the EN 16931 specification. It validates the AllowanceCharge element under Invoice in the UBL invoice XML.

When this rule fires, the invoice is non-compliant and will be rejected by Peppol access points and national validation services. The sending system receives a rejection response and the invoice does not reach the buyer.

Target path: XPath: /Invoice/cac:AllowanceCharge[cbc:ChargeIndicator=false]

Why This Error Matters

Invoice rejected. Delivery country is needed for logistics, customs, and tax determination.

BR-57 is a hard failure. Invoices that trigger this rule are rejected at the access point and never reach the recipient. In Peppol networks, this means your sending system receives an MLR (Message Level Response) with a rejection status. The invoice must be corrected and re-sent, adding delay to your payment cycle.

Validator Behavior

  • ·Causes invoice rejection
  • ·Error returned: BR-57
  • ·Specification: EN 16931

How to Fix It

1.

Locate document allowance

Find AllowanceCharge at document level

2.

Add reason code

Common codes: 95 (discount), 100 (special agreement)

Before / After

Failing XML
<cac:DeliveryLocation>
  <cac:Address>INVALID_CODE</cac:Address>
</cac:DeliveryLocation>
Corrected XML
<cac:DeliveryLocation>
  <cac:Address>VALID_CODE</cac:Address>
</cac:DeliveryLocation>

Technical Reference

XPathXPath: /Invoice/cac:AllowanceCharge[cbc:ChargeIndicator=false]
SpecEN 16931
StrategyRequires user input: Two-letter ISO 3166-1 country code for delivery location. Could potentially derive from country name if present.

Common Causes

  • ·Delivery address missing country code
  • ·Delivery/DeliveryLocation/Address without country
  • ·Shipping address entered without country selection
  • ·Country stored as full name not ISO code
  • ·Domestic delivery assumed no country needed

Seeing this in production? The API handles BR-57 automatically. See the fix response →

Frequently Asked Questions

Document level allowance must have reason code or text.

This requires user input to resolve. Provide the correct value for `cac:Address` (BG-15). Invoice Navigator detects this error and prompts for the required business data before applying a safe fix.

Yes, BR-57 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.

BR-57 requires specific business data to resolve. Invoice Navigator detects the error and guides you through providing the needed information, then applies the fix with full audit documentation.

Related Content

Last updated: 3 March 2026

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Resolve BR-57 with Guided Input

The compliance engine detects this error and prompts for the required business data before applying a safe, auditable fix.