BR-DE-02:Payment terms text recommended
German invoices should include payment terms text (Zahlungsbedingungen) for clarity.
Engine Classification
Business data required · Explicit input workflow · No assumptions made
Required input: Payment Terms (Zahlungsbedingungen)
What is BR-DE-02?
BR-DE-02 is a fatal validation rule defined in the XRechnung (Germany) specification (DEU national rules). It validates the Note element under Invoice > PaymentTerms 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:PaymentTerms/cbc:Note
Why This Error Matters
Clear payment terms reduce payment delays and disputes. German business practice expects explicit Skonto terms.
BR-DE-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
- ·Rejected by XRechnung endpoints
- ·Error returned: BR-DE-02
- ·Specification: XRechnung (Germany)
How to Fix It
Define terms
Specify payment deadline and any early payment discounts (Skonto)
Add to invoice
Insert PaymentTerms/Note element
Use German format
e.g., Zahlbar innerhalb von 30 Tagen ohne Abzug
Before / After
<cac:PayeeFinancialAccount> <!-- cbc:ID is missing --> </cac:PayeeFinancialAccount>
<cac:PayeeFinancialAccount> <cbc:ID>valid-value</cbc:ID> </cac:PayeeFinancialAccount>
Technical Reference
XPath: /Invoice/cac:PaymentTerms/cbc:NoteCode Example
<cac:PaymentTerms>\n <cbc:Note>Zahlbar innerhalb von 30 Tagen ohne Abzug</cbc:Note>\n</cac:PaymentTerms>Common Causes
- ·Generic templates
- ·Payment terms in ERP not exported
- ·Missing field mapping
Seeing this in production? The API handles BR-DE-02 automatically. See the fix response →
Commonly Seen In
Frequently Asked Questions
German invoices should include payment terms text (Zahlungsbedingungen) for clarity.
Add payment terms note with due date and conditions. You can also use Invoice Navigator's automatic Fixer tool to correct this instantly.
BR-DE-02 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-DE-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 terms text recommended.
BR-DE-02 is commonly seen in exports from All German invoicing software. These software packages sometimes generate invoices that need adjustment to meet full compliance standards.
Related Errors
Last updated: 27 February 2026
Handle BR-DE-02 Automatically in Your Pipeline
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