BR-BE-01:Enterprise Number Recommended
Belgian invoices should include the 10-digit enterprise number (ondernemingsnummer) formatted as 0XXX.XXX.XXX.
Engine Classification
Business data required · Explicit input workflow · No assumptions made
Required input: Belgian Enterprise Number (KBO/BCE)
What is BR-BE-01?
BR-BE-01 is a warning validation rule defined in the peppol-bis-3 specification (BEL national rules). It validates the CompanyID element under Party > PartyLegalEntity in the UBL invoice XML.
This is a soft validation failure. The invoice may pass initial transmission, but non-compliant values in this field can cause problems during tax audits, buyer-side processing, or downstream VAT reconciliation.
Target path: XPath: /Invoice/cac:AccountingSupplierParty/cac:Party/cac:PartyLegalEntity/cbc:CompanyID[@schemeID="0208"]
Why This Error Matters
The enterprise number is the unique Belgian business identifier required for official documents.
BR-BE-01 is a soft failure. The invoice may pass initial validation, but the non-compliant field can cause issues at the receiving end — tax authorities may flag it during audits, buyer ERP systems may fail to process it, or VAT reconciliation may produce mismatches. Fixing warnings before they accumulate prevents larger compliance gaps.
Validator Behavior
- ·Generates validation warning
- ·Rejected by PEPPOL Access Points
- ·Error returned: BR-BE-01
- ·Specification: peppol-bis-3
How to Fix It
Find enterprise number
Your 10-digit number is on the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (KBO)
Format correctly
Include leading zero: 0XXX.XXX.XXX or 0XXXXXXXXX
Add to invoice
Use CompanyID with schemeID 0208
XML Example
Generic example based on the rule's target XPath. Your actual XML structure may differ.
<!-- Incorrect value --> <cbc:CompanyID>INVALID</cbc:CompanyID>
<!-- Corrected value --> <cbc:CompanyID>VALID_VALUE</cbc:CompanyID>
Technical Reference
XPath: /Invoice/cac:AccountingSupplierParty/cac:Party/cac:PartyLegalEntity/cbc:CompanyID[@schemeID="0208"]Code Example
<cbc:CompanyID schemeID="0208">0123456789</cbc:CompanyID>Common Causes
- ·Using VAT number only
- ·Missing leading zero
- ·Not configured in accounting software
Seeing this in production? The API handles BR-BE-01 automatically. See the fix response →
Commonly Seen In
Frequently Asked Questions
Belgian invoices should include the 10-digit enterprise number (ondernemingsnummer) formatted as 0XXX.XXX.XXX.
Add the Belgian enterprise number with scheme ID 0208. You can also use Invoice Navigator's automatic Fixer tool to correct this instantly.
BR-BE-01 is a warning that may not always cause rejection, but it indicates a potential compliance issue that should be addressed to ensure full compatibility.
Many instances of BR-BE-01 can be automatically corrected using Invoice Navigator's Fixer tool. Upload your invoice and the tool will identify and fix common issues, including enterprise number recommended.
BR-BE-01 is commonly seen in exports from Exact Online, Octopus, Billit, Teamleader. These software packages sometimes generate invoices that need adjustment to meet full compliance standards.
Related Errors
Last updated: 18 January 2026
Handle BR-BE-01 Automatically in Your Pipeline
The compliance engine auto-remediates this error with controlled safety policies and evidence pack generation.