BR-CO-02:Payment means code must be valid
Fix: Use valid UNCL4461 payment code. Provide the required value in the free validator.
Payment means type code must be from UNCL4461.
Engine Classification
Business data required · Explicit input workflow · No assumptions made
Required input: Payment Means Code
What is BR-CO-02?
BR-CO-02 is a fatal validation rule defined in the en16931 specification. It validates the PaymentMeansCode element under Invoice > PaymentMeans in the UBL invoice XML.
When this rule fires, the invoice is rejected by Peppol access points and never reaches the buyer.
Target path: XPath: /Invoice/cac:PaymentMeans/cbc:PaymentMeansCode
Why This Error Matters
Payment codes enable automated payment processing.
BR-CO-02 is a hard failure — the invoice must be corrected and re-sent before it can reach the recipient.
Validator Behavior
- ·Causes invoice rejection
- ·Fails EN 16931 business rule validation
- ·Error returned: BR-CO-02
- ·Specification: en16931
How to Fix It
Check payment code
Find PaymentMeansCode value
Use valid code
30=Credit transfer, 58=SEPA credit, 59=SEPA direct debit, 48=Card
XML Example
Generic example based on the rule's target XPath. Your actual XML structure may differ.
<!-- Missing or empty element triggers cbc:PaymentMeansCode error --> <cbc:PaymentMeansCode></cbc:PaymentMeansCode>
<!-- Provide the required value --> <cbc:PaymentMeansCode>VALID_VALUE</cbc:PaymentMeansCode>
Technical Reference
XPath: /Invoice/cac:PaymentMeans/cbc:PaymentMeansCodeCommon Causes
- ·Invalid code value
- ·Using deprecated code
Seeing this in production? The API handles BR-CO-02 automatically. See the fix response →
Frequently Asked Questions
Payment means type code must be from UNCL4461.
Use valid UNCL4461 payment code. Invoice Navigator detects this error and prompts for the required business data before applying a safe fix.
Yes, BR-CO-02 is a critical error that will cause invoice rejection. It must be fixed before submission to ensure your invoice is accepted by the recipient's system.
BR-CO-02 requires specific business data to resolve. Invoice Navigator detects the error and guides you through providing the needed information, then applies the fix with full audit documentation.
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Last updated: 3 March 2026
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