BR-DE-04:Invalid XRechnung CustomizationID
XRechnung invoices must use the correct specification identifier for the version.
Engine Classification
Financial or legal field · Modification blocked by policy
Reason: The XRechnung CustomizationID specifies the format version and must be set correctly in your invoicing software. Update your ERP/invoicing system to use the correct XRechnung specification identifier for the target version (e.g., urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#compliant#urn:xeinkauf.de:kosit:xrechnung_3.0).
What is BR-DE-04?
BR-DE-04 is a fatal validation rule defined in the xrechnung specification (DEU national rules). It validates the CustomizationID 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:CustomizationID
Why This Error Matters
German government portals (ZRE, OZG-RE) validate the CustomizationID strictly.
BR-DE-04 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-04
- ·Specification: xrechnung
How to Fix It
Check version
XRechnung 3.0 is current for 2024+
Use correct ID
urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#compliant#urn:xeinkauf.de:kosit:xrechnung_3.0
Update template
Ensure your export uses current version
XML Example
Generic example based on the rule's target XPath. Your actual XML structure may differ.
<!-- Missing or empty element triggers cbc:CustomizationID error --> <cbc:CustomizationID></cbc:CustomizationID>
<!-- Provide the required value --> <cbc:CustomizationID>VALID_VALUE</cbc:CustomizationID>
Technical Reference
XPath: /Invoice/cbc:CustomizationIDCode Example
<cbc:CustomizationID>urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017#compliant#urn:xeinkauf.de:kosit:xrechnung_3.0</cbc:CustomizationID>Common Causes
- ·Old XRechnung version
- ·Using Peppol ID instead
- ·Typo in specification
Seeing this in production? The API handles BR-DE-04 automatically. See the fix response →
Commonly Seen In
Frequently Asked Questions
XRechnung invoices must use the correct specification identifier for the version.
Use the correct XRechnung 3.0 CustomizationID. You can also use Invoice Navigator's automatic Fixer tool to correct this instantly.
Yes, BR-DE-04 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-04 can be automatically corrected using Invoice Navigator's Fixer tool. Upload your invoice and the tool will identify and fix common issues, including invalid xrechnung customizationid.
BR-DE-04 is commonly seen in exports from All German invoicing software. These software packages sometimes generate invoices that need adjustment to meet full compliance standards.
See Also
Related Errors
Last updated: 18 January 2026
Handle BR-DE-04 Automatically in Your Pipeline
The compliance engine auto-remediates this error with controlled safety policies and evidence pack generation.