BR-DE-01:Invalid Leitweg-ID Format
German B2G (Business-to-Government) invoices require a valid Leitweg-ID in the Buyer Reference field (BT-10). The Leitweg-ID is a routing identifier that directs your invoice to the correct government department.
Engine Classification
Business data required · Explicit input workflow · No assumptions made
Required input: Leitweg-ID
What is BR-DE-01?
BR-DE-01 is a fatal validation rule defined in the XRechnung (Germany) specification (DEU national rules). It validates the BuyerReference element under Invoice 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/cbc:BuyerReference
Why This Error Matters
Invoice rejected by German public sector. Cannot be delivered without the Leitweg-ID routing code.
BR-DE-01 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
- ·Rejected by XRechnung endpoints
- ·Error returned: BR-DE-01
- ·Specification: XRechnung (Germany)
How to Fix It
Obtain Leitweg-ID
Request the Leitweg-ID from your German public sector customer. This is typically provided on the purchase order or contract.
Enter Leitweg-ID
Enter the ID in format: XX-XXXXX-XX (e.g., 04011000-12345-12)
Verify format
The format should be: 2-12 digits, dash, 1-30 digits, dash, 2 digits
Before / After
<cbc:BuyerReference></cbc:BuyerReference>
<cbc:BuyerReference>04011000-12345-12</cbc:BuyerReference>
Technical Reference
XPath: /Invoice/cbc:BuyerReferenceCode Example
<cbc:BuyerReference>04011000-12345-67</cbc:BuyerReference>Common Causes
- ·XRechnung invoice missing Leitweg-ID (routing ID)
- ·BT-10 Buyer reference not populated with Leitweg-ID
- ·German public sector invoice without routing identifier
- ·Leitweg-ID not configured for recipient authority
- ·Export template missing German routing ID field
Seeing this in production? The API handles BR-DE-01 automatically. See the fix response →
ERP-Specific Causes
Commonly Seen In
Frequently Asked Questions
For German B2G invoices, a buyer reference (Leitweg-ID) is mandatory. This is the routing ID used by German public sector buyers.
Add the Leitweg-ID provided by your public sector customer. You can also use Invoice Navigator's automatic Fixer tool to correct this instantly.
Yes, BR-DE-01 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-DE-01 can be automatically corrected using Invoice Navigator's Fixer tool. Upload your invoice and the tool will identify and fix common issues, including missing buyer reference (leitweg-id).
BR-DE-01 is commonly seen in exports from SAP, DATEV, Lexware, Sage. These software packages sometimes generate invoices that need adjustment to meet full compliance standards.
Related Errors
Last updated: 27 February 2026
Handle BR-DE-01 Automatically in Your Pipeline
The compliance engine auto-remediates this error with controlled safety policies and evidence pack generation.