Duplicate Attachment Filenames in Germany

This is the rejection, word for word: „[BR-DE-22] XRechnung requires all attachment filenames to be unique. Multiple EmbeddedDocumentBinaryObject elements have the same filename attribute.“

Why this matters in Germany

Germany requires e-invoicing using XRechnung (UBL), XRechnung (CII), ZUGFeRD 2.x. An invoice with this error is rejected; it cannot be processed under Germany's rules.

Invoice rejected. Attachments must have unique names for proper reference.

What to have readyNothing. The file has to be re-exported from your invoicing software; we check it again afterwards.

What we doInvoice Navigator automatically fixes this Invoice compliance issue by updating the relevant XML elements (BR-DE-22).

Choose the rejected invoiceor drop it here

XRechnung XML or ZUGFeRD PDF. Checking is free · corrected file €1.90 · the first every 30 days is free · no sign-up.

How to fix BR-DE-22

01Identify duplicatesFind attachments with same filename

02Rename filesAdd suffix like -2, -3 to duplicate filenames

If you enter it yourself in your invoicing software

Before

<Invoice>
  <!-- Issue: XRechnung requires all attachment filenames to be unique -->
</Invoice>

After

<Invoice>
  <!-- Issue resolved per XRechnung (Germany) -->
</Invoice>

Germany e-invoicing requirements

Phase	Status	Scope
B2G	Live (Nov 2020)	All federal suppliers
B2B receiving	Live (Jan 2025)	All German businesses
B2B sending	Jan 2027	>€800K annual revenue
B2B sending	Jan 2028	All businesses

Known causes

Duplicate attachment filenames in XRechnung

Multiple EmbeddedDocumentBinaryObject have same filename

German invoice requires unique attachment names

Attachment filename attribute not unique

Multiple files exported with identical names

Read on

BR-DE-22, the full explanation →Germany e-invoicing guide →All Germany error codes →