Seller Contact Email Must Have Valid Format in Germany

This is the rejection, word for word: „[BR-DE-28] Contact email addresses must be valid email format. The email must contain proper structure with username, @ symbol, and domain. Invalid email addresses fail schema validation.“

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 will be rejected by XRechnung validation. Invalid email format fails schema validation and prevents proper contact information storage.

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-28).

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-28

If you enter it yourself in your invoicing software

Before

<Invoice>
  <!-- Issue: XRechnung requires seller contact email to have valid format -->
</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

Typo in email address (missing @, double dots)

Invalid domain format

Spaces accidentally included in email

Placeholder text left instead of real email

Copy/paste error corrupted the email address

Read on

BR-DE-28, the full explanation →Germany e-invoicing guide →All Germany error codes →