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BR-FR-02:SIREN vs SIRET confusion

SIREN (9 digits) identifies the company, SIRET (14 digits) identifies the specific establishment. French e-invoices require the full 14-digit SIRET.

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Why This Error Matters

Invalid SIRET format will cause rejection by French government systems. The Luhn checksum algorithm is used to validate SIRET numbers.

How to Fix It

Code Example

<cbc:CompanyID schemeID="0009">12345678901234</cbc:CompanyID>

Technical Details

XPath: /Invoice/cac:AccountingSupplierParty/cac:Party/cac:PartyLegalEntity/cbc:CompanyID[@schemeID="0009"]

Common Causes

  • Using 9-digit SIREN instead of 14-digit SIRET
  • Confusion between company and establishment identifiers

Commonly Seen In

All invoicing software

Frequently Asked Questions

SIREN (9 digits) identifies the company, SIRET (14 digits) identifies the specific establishment. French e-invoices require the full 14-digit SIRET.
Use the full 14-digit SIRET instead of the 9-digit SIREN. You can also use Invoice Navigator's automatic Fixer tool to correct this instantly.
Yes, BR-FR-02 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-FR-02 can be automatically corrected using Invoice Navigator's Fixer tool. Upload your invoice and the tool will identify and fix common issues, including siren vs siret confusion.
BR-FR-02 is commonly seen in exports from All invoicing software. These software packages sometimes generate invoices that need adjustment to meet full compliance standards.

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Last updated: 18 January 2026

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