# BT-53 Buyer Post Code

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

## Quick answer

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

> **Buyer details**: Who receives the invoice and which buyer records or routing data must match.

## In plain language

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

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

Essential for postal routing and identifying the correct government district or administrative region

## What you usually enter here

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

Typical valid values include: 10117, 80539, 20095, 53113

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

## What goes wrong often

Avoid values like: 1011, 101177, D-10117, 10117 Berlin

Relevant rule codes: BR-CO-26

## Examples in context

Essential for postal routing and identifying the correct government district or administrative region

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

## Valid Examples

- 10117
- 80539
- 20095
- 53113
- 60311
- 70173

## Invalid Examples

- 1011
- 101177
- D-10117
- 10117 Berlin
- PLZ 10117

## Related Fields

Essential for postal routing and identifying the correct government district or administrative region

- [BT-50 Buyer Address Line 1](/resources/xrechnung/bt-50-buyer-address-line-1)
- [BT-51 Buyer address line 2](/resources/xrechnung/bt-51-buyer-address-line-2)
- [BT-52 Buyer City](/resources/xrechnung/bt-52-buyer-city)
- [BT-54 Buyer country subdivision](/resources/xrechnung/bt-54-buyer-country-subdivision)
- [BT-55 Buyer Country Code](/resources/xrechnung/bt-55-buyer-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-53

### 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:AccountingCustomerParty/cac:Party/cac:PostalAddress/cbc:PostalZone
```

### CII (UN/CEFACT) Syntax
```
/CrossIndustryInvoice/SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement/ram:BuyerTradeParty/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 identifying the correct government district or administrative region

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

## FAQ

### What are common postal codes for German government institutions?
Berlin government district: 10117-10999, Bonn federal area: 53100-53299, Munich Bavaria: 80000-81999, Hamburg: 20000-21999. Use the specific code for the exact address.

### Do federal ministries have special postal codes?
No, federal ministries use regular postal codes for their location. For example, ministries in Berlin use codes like 10117, 10178, 10963 depending on their specific address.

### How do I find the correct postal code for a public institution?
Check the institution's official website, use Deutsche Post's postal code lookup, or verify with the organization directly. Government directories often provide complete addresses.

## 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)