BR-DE-29:SEPA direct debit mandate required
SEPA direct debit requires mandate reference.
Engine Classification
Business data required · Explicit input workflow · No assumptions made
Required input: SEPA Mandate Reference
What is BR-DE-29?
BR-DE-29 is a fatal validation rule defined in the xrechnung specification (DEU national rules). It validates the ID element under PaymentMeans > PaymentMandate 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:PaymentMeans[cbc:PaymentMeansCode="59"]/cac:PaymentMandate/cbc:ID
Why This Error Matters
SEPA DD requires mandate authorization.
BR-DE-29 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-29
- ·Specification: xrechnung
How to Fix It
Check payment code
If PaymentMeansCode is 59
Add mandate
PaymentMandate/ID with reference number
XML Example
Generic example based on the rule's target XPath. Your actual XML structure may differ.
<!-- Missing or empty element triggers cbc:ID error --> <cbc:ID></cbc:ID>
<!-- Provide the required value --> <cbc:ID>VALID_VALUE</cbc:ID>
Technical Reference
XPath: /Invoice/cac:PaymentMeans[cbc:PaymentMeansCode="59"]/cac:PaymentMandate/cbc:IDCommon Causes
- ·Code 59 without mandate
Seeing this in production? The API handles BR-DE-29 automatically. See the fix response →
Frequently Asked Questions
SEPA direct debit requires mandate reference.
Add PaymentMandate/ID with SEPA mandate reference. You can also use Invoice Navigator's automatic Fixer tool to correct this instantly.
Yes, BR-DE-29 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-29 can be automatically corrected using Invoice Navigator's Fixer tool. Upload your invoice and the tool will identify and fix common issues, including sepa direct debit mandate required.
See Also
Related Errors
Last updated: 27 February 2026
Handle BR-DE-29 Automatically in Your Pipeline
The compliance engine auto-remediates this error with controlled safety policies and evidence pack generation.