# BR-46 VAT breakdown tax amount is required

Each VAT breakdown (BG-23) shall have a VAT category tax amount (BT-117).

## Problem Description

Each VAT breakdown (BG-23) shall have a VAT category tax amount (BT-117).

> **ERROR**: XRechnung 3.0

## Context and Significance

This rule comes from the EN16931 core semantic model enforced by the KoSIT XRechnung 3.0.2 Schematron, ensuring invoices carry the mandatory data needed for automated processing.

## Solution

Add cbc:TaxAmount to each cac:TaxSubtotal; for exempt or zero-rated categories the value is 0.00.

- validate
- convert

## Valid Examples

- BT-117 = 19.00 for a standard-rate VAT subtotal
- BT-117 = 0.00 for an exempt subtotal

## Invalid Examples

- VAT subtotal with taxable amount but no BT-117 tax amount

## Code Examples

### Valid XML
```
<cac:TaxSubtotal>
  <cbc:TaxableAmount currencyID="EUR">100.00</cbc:TaxableAmount>
  <cbc:TaxAmount currencyID="EUR">19.00</cbc:TaxAmount>
  <cac:TaxCategory>
    <cbc:ID>S</cbc:ID>
    <cbc:Percent>19</cbc:Percent>
    <cac:TaxScheme><cbc:ID>VAT</cbc:ID></cac:TaxScheme>
  </cac:TaxCategory>
</cac:TaxSubtotal>
```

### Invalid XML
```
<cac:TaxSubtotal>
  <cbc:TaxableAmount currencyID="EUR">100.00</cbc:TaxableAmount>
  <cac:TaxCategory>
    <cbc:ID>S</cbc:ID>
    <cbc:Percent>19</cbc:Percent>
    <cac:TaxScheme><cbc:ID>VAT</cbc:ID></cac:TaxScheme>
  </cac:TaxCategory>
</cac:TaxSubtotal>
```

## Affected Fields

- [BT-117 VAT category tax amount](/resources/xrechnung/bt-117-vat-category-tax-amount)

## Related Rules

- [BR-45](/resources/kosit-validator-errors/br-45-vat-breakdown-taxable-amount-required)
- [BR-48](/resources/kosit-validator-errors/br-48-vat-breakdown-category-rate-required)

## Validation Tools

- [Official KoSIT Validator](https://erechnungsvalidator.service-bw.de/): Validate your XRechnung files against all BR-DE rules.
- [Convert PDF to XRechnung](/pdf-to-xrechnung): Automatic validation error fixes when converting.

## Related Resources

- [Official Specification](https://xeinkauf.de/xrechnung/)
- [Test Suite](https://github.com/itplr-kosit/xrechnung-testsuite)
- [Complete Error List](/resources/kosit-validator-errors): Overview of all German XRechnung validation rules.