Error Guide

🇩🇪 DE-R-020: Debited account identifier (BT-91) should contain a valid IBAN if code 59... in Germany

ErrorMandatoryAuto-fixable

Invalid debit IBAN format. When payment means code 59 (SEPA direct debit) is used, the debited account (BT-91) must contain a valid IBAN.

Quick Facts

Severity

Error (rejection)

Ruleset

EN 16931

Fix Confidence

80%

Mandate

B2B Mandatory

Fix Type

Automatic

Why This Matters in Germany

Germany requires e-invoicing using XRechnung (UBL), XRechnung (CII), ZUGFeRD 2.x. Invoices with this error will be rejected. They cannot be processed for Germany compliance.

Invoice Navigator automatically fixes this error. No manual intervention needed.

Invoice Navigator covers 147 XRechnung 3.0.2 rules for Germany.

How to Fix DE-R-020

1
Find the missing or empty field
Check cbc:PostalZone at //cac:AccountingCustomerParty/cac:Party/cac:PostalAddress/cbc:PostalZone. This field is required but is either missing or empty.
2
Set the required value
Invoice Navigator automatically fixes this issue by correcting the `cbc:Note` element in your Invoice.
3
Re-validate your invoice
Upload the corrected invoice to confirm DE-R-020 is resolved.

Example: Before & After

Before (invalid)

<cac:PaymentTerms>
  <cbc:Note>INVALID_CODE</cbc:Note>
</cac:PaymentTerms>

After (fixed)

<cac:PaymentTerms>
  <cbc:Note>VALID_CODE</cbc:Note>
</cac:PaymentTerms>

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

Common Causes

•SEPA direct debit missing valid debtor IBAN
•BT-91 debited account not valid IBAN format
•Payment means code 59 requires IBAN in debit account
•Customer bank account not in IBAN format for SEPA
•cbc:ID in cac:PaymentMandate/cac:PayerFinancialAccount invalid

Fix DE-R-020 automatically

Upload your invoice and let Invoice Navigator auto-remediate this error.

Try the Validator Germany Guide →