errorDEUpeppol-bis-3

`BR-DE-03`:German VAT ID required

German B2B invoices must include the USt-IdNr (VAT identification number) in DE + 9 digits format.

Severity

Fatal

Rule set

peppol-bis-3

Country

DEU

Fix type

INPUT REQUIRED

Engine Classification

Business data required · Explicit input workflow · No assumptions made

Required input: German VAT ID (USt-IdNr)

What is BR-DE-03?

BR-DE-03 is a fatal validation rule defined in the peppol-bis-3 specification (DEU national rules). It validates the CompanyID element under Party > PartyTaxScheme 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:AccountingSupplierParty/cac:Party/cac:PartyTaxScheme/cbc:CompanyID

Fix this error Get API Access

Why This Error Matters

USt-IdNr is required for intra-EU B2B transactions and recommended for all German B2B invoices.

BR-DE-03 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
·Rejected by PEPPOL Access Points
·Rejected by XRechnung endpoints
·Error returned: BR-DE-03
·Specification: peppol-bis-3

How to Fix It

Get USt-IdNr

Format: DE + 9 digits (e.g., DE123456789)

Not Steuernummer

USt-IdNr is different from the tax number (Steuernummer)

Add to invoice

Place in PartyTaxScheme section

XML Example

Generic example based on the rule's target XPath. Your actual XML structure may differ.

Before

<!-- Missing or empty element triggers cbc:CompanyID error -->
<cbc:CompanyID></cbc:CompanyID>

After

<!-- Provide the required value -->
<cbc:CompanyID>VALID_VALUE</cbc:CompanyID>

Technical Reference

XPathXPath: /Invoice/cac:AccountingSupplierParty/cac:Party/cac:PartyTaxScheme/cbc:CompanyID

Specpeppol-bis-3

Code Example

<cac:PartyTaxScheme>
  <cbc:CompanyID>DE123456789</cbc:CompanyID>
  <cac:TaxScheme>
    <cbc:ID>VAT</cbc:ID>
  </cac:TaxScheme>
</cac:PartyTaxScheme>

Common Causes

·Using Steuernummer instead
·Missing DE prefix
·Number not registered

Seeing this in production? The API handles BR-DE-03 automatically. See the fix response →

Commonly Seen In

SAP →DATEV →LexwareMicrosoft Dynamics

Frequently Asked Questions

German B2B invoices must include the USt-IdNr (VAT identification number) in DE + 9 digits format.

Add German VAT number with DE prefix. Invoice Navigator detects this error and prompts for the required business data before applying a safe fix.

Yes, BR-DE-03 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-DE-03 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.

BR-DE-03 is commonly seen in exports from SAP, DATEV, Lexware, Microsoft Dynamics. These software packages sometimes generate invoices that need adjustment to meet full compliance standards.

Resolve BR-DE-03 with Guided Input

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

Get API Access View API Documentation

BR-DE-03:German VAT ID required