# BT-38 Seller Post Code

The postal code of the area where the seller's address is located. For Germany, this is a 5-digit code.

## Quick answer

The postal code of the area where the seller's address is located. For Germany, this is a 5-digit code.

> **Seller details**: Who issued the invoice and how the recipient can identify that business reliably.

## In plain language

The postal code of the area where the seller's address is located. For Germany, this is a 5-digit code.

The postal code of the area where the seller's address is located. For Germany, this is a 5-digit code.

Essential for postal routing and geographic classification of the seller's business location

## What you usually enter here

5-digit code for Germany, varying formats for other countries

Typical valid values include: 80331, 10115, 20095, 60311

Mandatory field for complete address specification according to EN 16931 and German postal regulations

## What goes wrong often

Avoid values like: 8033, 803311, D-80331, 80331 München

Relevant rule codes: BR-CO-26

## Examples in context

Essential for postal routing and geographic classification of the seller's business location

Mandatory field for complete address specification according to EN 16931 and German postal regulations

## Valid Examples

- 80331
- 10115
- 20095
- 60311
- 40213
- 70173

## Invalid Examples

- 8033
- 803311
- D-80331
- 80331 München
- PLZ 80331

## Related Fields

Essential for postal routing and geographic classification of the seller's business location

- [BT-35 Seller Address Line 1](/resources/xrechnung/bt-35-seller-address-line-1)
- [BT-36 Seller address line 2](/resources/xrechnung/bt-36-seller-address-line-2)
- [BT-37 Seller City](/resources/xrechnung/bt-37-seller-city)
- [BT-39 Seller country subdivision](/resources/xrechnung/bt-39-seller-country-subdivision)
- [BT-40 Seller Country Code](/resources/xrechnung/bt-40-seller-country-code)

## XML mapping and field facts

Open the technical reference if you need XML paths, validator rule codes, legal wording, or schema-specific mapping details.

### Field ID:
BT-38

### Data Type:
text

### Cardinality:
1..1

### Requirement:
Mandatory

### Max Length:
20 characters

### Since Version:
XRechnung 1.0+

## XML Implementation

### UBL 2.1 Syntax
```
/Invoice/cac:AccountingSupplierParty/cac:Party/cac:PostalAddress/cbc:PostalZone
```

### CII (UN/CEFACT) Syntax
```
/CrossIndustryInvoice/SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement/ram:SellerTradeParty/ram:PostalTradeAddress/ram:PostcodeCode
```

## Validation Rules

### BR-CO-26
BR-CO-26

## Why the standard cares about this field

### Business Context
Essential for postal routing and geographic classification of the seller's business location

### Legal Requirement
Mandatory field for complete address specification according to EN 16931 and German postal regulations

## FAQ

### What is the format for German postal codes?
German postal codes consist of exactly 5 digits (e.g., 80331 for Munich center, 10115 for Berlin Mitte). No spaces, hyphens, or country prefixes should be included.

### Should I include leading zeros?
Yes, always include leading zeros to maintain the 5-digit format. For example, use "01067" for Dresden, not "1067".

### What about PO Box postal codes?
PO Boxes may have different postal codes than street addresses in the same city. Use the specific postal code assigned to the PO Box.

### How do I handle international postal codes?
For non-German addresses, use the postal code format of the respective country. Do not include country prefixes - the country code is specified separately in BT-40.

## Official sources and tools

- [KoSIT Validator](https://erechnungsvalidator.service-bw.de/)
- [Invoice Converter](/pdf-to-xrechnung)
- [XRechnung Standard](https://xeinkauf.de/xrechnung/)
- [Test Suite](https://github.com/itplr-kosit/xrechnung-testsuite)