BR-DE-03:German VAT ID required
Fix: Add German VAT number with DE prefix. Provide the required value in the free validator.
German B2B invoices must include the USt-IdNr (VAT identification number) in DE + 9 digits format.
Engine Classification
Business data required · Explicit input workflow · No assumptions made
Required input: German VAT ID (USt-IdNr)
What is BR-DE-03?
BR-DE-03 is a fatal validation rule defined in the peppol-bis-3 specification (DEU national rules). It validates the CompanyID element under Party > PartyTaxScheme 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:AccountingSupplierParty/cac:Party/cac:PartyTaxScheme/cbc:CompanyID
Why This Error Matters
USt-IdNr is required for intra-EU B2B transactions and recommended for all German B2B invoices.
BR-DE-03 is a hard failure — the invoice must be corrected and re-sent before it can reach the recipient.
Validator Behavior
- ·Causes invoice rejection
- ·Rejected by PEPPOL Access Points
- ·Rejected by XRechnung endpoints
- ·Error returned: BR-DE-03
- ·Specification: peppol-bis-3
How to Fix It
Get USt-IdNr
Format: DE + 9 digits (e.g., DE123456789)
Not Steuernummer
USt-IdNr is different from the tax number (Steuernummer)
Add to invoice
Place in PartyTaxScheme section
XML Example
Generic example based on the rule's target XPath. Your actual XML structure may differ.
<!-- Missing or empty element triggers cbc:CompanyID error --> <cbc:CompanyID></cbc:CompanyID>
<!-- Provide the required value --> <cbc:CompanyID>VALID_VALUE</cbc:CompanyID>
Technical Reference
XPath: /Invoice/cac:AccountingSupplierParty/cac:Party/cac:PartyTaxScheme/cbc:CompanyIDCode Example
<cac:PartyTaxScheme>
<cbc:CompanyID>DE123456789</cbc:CompanyID>
<cac:TaxScheme>
<cbc:ID>VAT</cbc:ID>
</cac:TaxScheme>
</cac:PartyTaxScheme>Common Causes
- ·Using Steuernummer instead
- ·Missing DE prefix
- ·Number not registered
Seeing this in production? The API handles BR-DE-03 automatically. See the fix response →
Commonly Seen In
Frequently Asked Questions
German B2B invoices must include the USt-IdNr (VAT identification number) in DE + 9 digits format.
Add German VAT number with DE prefix. Invoice Navigator detects this error and prompts for the required business data before applying a safe fix.
Yes, BR-DE-03 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-DE-03 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.
BR-DE-03 is commonly seen in exports from SAP, DATEV, Lexware, Microsoft Dynamics. These software packages sometimes generate invoices that need adjustment to meet full compliance standards.
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Last updated: 3 March 2026
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