XRechnung Error Codes: Complete Troubleshooting Guide 2025

BR-01: Invoice Number Required

Error Message: "An Invoice shall have an Invoice number (BT-1)."

Cause: Missing invoice number

Solution: Add a unique invoice number in field BT-1

BR-02: Invoice Issue Date Required

Error Message: "An Invoice shall have an Invoice issue date (BT-2)."

Cause: Missing or invalid invoice date

Solution: Add issue date in YYYY-MM-DD format

BR-04: Invoice Type Code Required

Error Message: "An Invoice shall have an Invoice type code (BT-3)."

Cause: Missing invoice type specification

Solution: Add type code (380 for invoice, 381 for credit note)

BR-16: Line Net Amount Required

Error Message: "An Invoice line shall have an Invoice line net amount (BT-131)."

Cause: Missing net amount for invoice line

Solution: Ensure each line has quantity × unit price = line net amount

BR-45: VAT Category Required

Error Message: "Each VAT breakdown shall have a VAT category code (BT-118)."

Cause: Missing VAT category in tax breakdown

Solution: Add appropriate VAT category code (S, AA, Z, E, etc.)

BR-49: Payment Means Required

Error Message: "A Payment instruction shall specify the Payment means type code (BT-81)."

Cause: Missing payment method specification

Solution: Add payment means code (30=credit transfer, 59=SEPA)

BR-DE-1: Leitweg-ID Required

Error Message: "Das Element 'Buyer reference' (BT-10) muss übermittelt werden (Leitweg-ID)."

Cause: Missing or incorrect Leitweg-ID for B2G invoices

Solution: Add the exact Leitweg-ID provided by the public authority

BR-DE-2: Seller Electronic Address Required

Error Message: "Das Element 'Seller electronic address' (BT-34) muss übermittelt werden."

Cause: Missing seller's electronic endpoint ID

Solution: Add PEPPOL ID or email address as endpoint

BR-DE-16: VAT ID Required for Certain Tax Codes

Error Message: "In der Rechnung muss mindestens eines der Elemente 'Seller VAT identifier' (BT-31) oder 'Seller tax registration identifier' (BT-32) übermittelt werden."

Cause: Using tax codes S, Z, E, AE, K, G, L, or M without VAT ID

Solution: Add seller's VAT identifier (USt-IdNr.)

BR-DE-19: Payment Terms for Skonto

Error Message: "Payment terms (BT-20) shall specify the conditions for a payment discount."

Cause: Offering cash discount without proper terms

Solution: Include discount percentage and period in payment terms

Invalid XML Structure

Error: "The content of element 'Invoice' is not complete"

Cause: Missing required XML elements or wrong order

Solution: Ensure all mandatory elements are present in correct sequence

• Check namespace declarations
• Verify element order matches schema
• Ensure no missing closing tags

Invalid Data Type

Error: "Invalid content was found starting with element"

Cause: Wrong data type (e.g., text in numeric field)

Solution: Ensure correct data types:

• Amounts: Decimal with max 2 decimals
• Dates: YYYY-MM-DD format
• Codes: Valid code list values only

Namespace Errors

Error: "Cannot find the declaration of element"

Cause: Missing or incorrect namespace declarations

Solution: Verify correct namespaces for UBL or CII syntax

BR-CO-10: Sum of Line Amounts Error

Error: "Sum of Invoice line net amounts = Invoice total amount without VAT"

Cause: Line items don't add up to subtotal

Solution: Recalculate: Sum of all line net amounts must equal invoice subtotal

BR-CO-14: VAT Calculation Error

Error: "Invoice total VAT amount = Σ VAT category tax amounts"

Cause: VAT calculations don't match

Solution: Ensure VAT is calculated correctly for each category

BR-CO-15: Invoice Total Error

Error: "Invoice total amount with VAT = Invoice total without VAT + Invoice total VAT"

Cause: Grand total calculation incorrect

Solution: Verify: Subtotal + Total VAT = Grand Total

Date Format Errors

Common Issues:

• Wrong format: Must be YYYY-MM-DD (not DD.MM.YYYY)
• Invalid dates: Check for impossible dates (e.g., 2025-13-32)
• Missing leading zeros: Use 2025-01-05, not 2025-1-5

Amount Format Errors

Common Issues:

• Decimal separator: Use period (.) not comma (,)
• Decimal places: Maximum 2 for monetary amounts
• Negative amounts: Use minus sign, not parentheses

Code List Errors

Common Issues:

• Invalid currency: Use ISO 4217 codes (EUR, USD, GBP)
• Invalid country: Use ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 (DE, FR, IT)
• Invalid unit: Use UN/ECE Recommendation 20 codes

Leitweg-ID Not Found

Error: "Die Leitweg-ID konnte nicht zugeordnet werden"

Cause: Unknown or inactive Leitweg-ID

Solution:

• Verify Leitweg-ID with recipient
• Check for typos (case-sensitive!)
• Ensure ID is still active

File Size Exceeded

Error: "Maximum file size exceeded"

Cause: Invoice file too large (usually >15MB)

Solution:

• Remove embedded attachments
• Send attachments separately
• Optimize file structure