BR-DE-15:Buyer reference (Leitweg-ID) mandatory
BuyerReference (BT-10) is mandatory in XRechnung.
Engine Classification
Ensure buyer reference (Leitweg-ID) is present for XRechnung compliance
Confidence: 80% · Applied automatically in pipeline
What is BR-DE-15?
BR-DE-15 is a fatal validation rule defined in the XRechnung (Germany) specification (DEU national rules). It validates the BuyerReference element 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: /Invoice/cbc:BuyerReference
Why This Error Matters
Invoice rejected. Buyer reference is mandatory for German public sector routing.
BR-DE-15 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.
Invoice Navigator can automatically correct this error in your pipeline. The fix is applied with full audit evidence, so your compliance trail remains intact.
Validator Behavior
- ·Causes invoice rejection
- ·Rejected by XRechnung endpoints
- ·Error returned: BR-DE-15
- ·Specification: XRechnung (Germany)
How to Fix It
Add BuyerReference
Required element for XRechnung
Use Leitweg-ID
For B2G: format like 04011000-12345-67
Before / After
<Invoice> <cbc:BuyerReference><!-- invalid or missing value --></cbc:BuyerReference> </Invoice>
<Invoice> <cbc:BuyerReference>correct-value</cbc:BuyerReference> </Invoice>
Technical Reference
/Invoice/cbc:BuyerReferenceCommon Causes
- ·Buyer reference missing in XRechnung
- ·BT-10 Buyer reference mandatory for German invoices
- ·Leitweg-ID or order reference not provided
- ·AccountingCustomerParty reference field empty
- ·German B2G invoice without buyer reference
Seeing this in production? The API handles BR-DE-15 automatically. See the fix response →
Frequently Asked Questions
BuyerReference (BT-10) is mandatory in XRechnung.
Add BuyerReference element with Leitweg-ID or other reference. You can also use Invoice Navigator's automatic Fixer tool to correct this instantly.
Yes, BR-DE-15 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-15 can be automatically corrected using Invoice Navigator's Fixer tool. Upload your invoice and the tool will identify and fix common issues, including buyer reference (leitweg-id) mandatory.
Related Errors
Last updated: 27 February 2026
Handle BR-DE-15 Automatically in Your Pipeline
The compliance engine auto-remediates this error with controlled safety policies and evidence pack generation.