BR-FR-03:TVA intracommunautaire format
French VAT numbers (numéro de TVA intracommunautaire) must start with FR prefix followed by 11 characters (2 check digits + 9-digit SIREN).
Engine Classification
Business data required · Explicit input workflow · No assumptions made
Required input: French VAT Number (TVA intracommunautaire)
What is BR-FR-03?
BR-FR-03 is a fatal validation rule defined in the peppol-bis-3 specification (FRA national rules). It validates the CompanyID element under Party > PartyTaxScheme 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:AccountingSupplierParty/cac:Party/cac:PartyTaxScheme/cbc:CompanyID
Why This Error Matters
VAT number is required for intra-EU transactions and B2B invoicing in France.
BR-FR-03 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 PEPPOL Access Points
- ·Rejected by Chorus Pro
- ·Error returned: BR-FR-03
- ·Specification: peppol-bis-3
How to Fix It
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
<cbc:CompanyID schemeID="9957">FR12345678901</cbc:CompanyID>Common Causes
- ·VAT number missing FR prefix
- ·Using SIRET instead of TVA format
- ·Incorrect check digits
Seeing this in production? The API handles BR-FR-03 automatically. See the fix response →
Commonly Seen In
Frequently Asked Questions
French VAT numbers (numéro de TVA intracommunautaire) must start with FR prefix followed by 11 characters (2 check digits + 9-digit SIREN).
Add the FR prefix to the VAT number and ensure correct formatting. You can also use Invoice Navigator's automatic Fixer tool to correct this instantly.
Yes, BR-FR-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.
Many instances of BR-FR-03 can be automatically corrected using Invoice Navigator's Fixer tool. Upload your invoice and the tool will identify and fix common issues, including tva intracommunautaire format.
BR-FR-03 is commonly seen in exports from Sage, Cegid, SAP, Custom ERP. These software packages sometimes generate invoices that need adjustment to meet full compliance standards.
Related Errors
Last updated: 18 January 2026
Handle BR-FR-03 Automatically in Your Pipeline
The compliance engine auto-remediates this error with controlled safety policies and evidence pack generation.