BR-CO-02:Payment means code must be valid
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 non-compliant and will be rejected by Peppol access points and national validation services. The sending system receives a rejection response and the invoice does not reach 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. Invoices that trigger this rule are rejected at the access point and never reach the recipient. In Peppol networks, this means your sending system receives an MLR (Message Level Response) with a rejection status. The invoice must be corrected and re-sent, adding delay to your payment cycle.
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. You can also use Invoice Navigator's automatic Fixer tool to correct this instantly.
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.
Many instances of BR-CO-02 can be automatically corrected using Invoice Navigator's Fixer tool. Upload your invoice and the tool will identify and fix common issues, including payment means code must be valid.
See Also
Related Errors
Last updated: 18 January 2026
Handle BR-CO-02 Automatically in Your Pipeline
The compliance engine auto-remediates this error with controlled safety policies and evidence pack generation.