BR-Z-01:An Invoice that contains an Invoice line (BG-25), a Document level allowance...
When using VAT category Z (zero rate), an exemption reason code or text must be provided.
Engine Classification
Financial or legal field · Modification blocked by policy
What is BR-Z-01?
BR-Z-01 is a fatal validation rule defined in the EN 16931 specification. It validates the TaxCategory element under TaxTotal > TaxSubtotal 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:TaxTotal/cac:TaxSubtotal/cac:TaxCategory[cbc:ID="Z"]
Why This Error Matters
Invoice will be rejected. Zero rated VAT (category Z) requires seller VAT registration, 0% rate, and correct breakdown. Zero rate is different from exemption - it still requires tax compliance.
BR-Z-01 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
- ·Error returned: BR-Z-01
- ·Specification: EN 16931
How to Fix It
Check category
Z is for zero-rated supplies
Add reason code
Use VATEX-EU-* codes for EU exemptions
Or add text reason
Explain why zero rate applies
Before / After
<Invoice> <cac:InvoiceLine>999.99</cac:InvoiceLine> <!-- Does not match expected calculation --> </Invoice>
<Invoice> <cac:InvoiceLine>100.00</cac:InvoiceLine> <!-- Matches expected calculation --> </Invoice>
Technical Reference
XPath: /Invoice/cac:TaxTotal/cac:TaxSubtotal/cac:TaxCategory[cbc:ID="Z"]Code Example
<cac:TaxCategory>
<cbc:ID>Z</cbc:ID>
<cbc:Percent>0</cbc:Percent>
<cbc:TaxExemptionReasonCode>VATEX-EU-132</cbc:TaxExemptionReasonCode>
<cac:TaxScheme>
<cbc:ID>VAT</cbc:ID>
</cac:TaxScheme>
</cac:TaxCategory>Common Causes
- ·Zero rated (Z) category used but no Z breakdown exists
- ·Invoice lines use BT-151=Z but BG-23 missing Z entry
- ·cac:TaxSubtotal for zero rate not generated
- ·Tax breakdown section lacks mandatory Z category
- ·Zero rated items require exactly one matching breakdown
Seeing this in production? The API handles BR-Z-01 automatically. See the fix response →
Commonly Seen In
Frequently Asked Questions
When using VAT category Z (zero rate), an exemption reason code or text must be provided.
Add TaxExemptionReasonCode or TaxExemptionReason for zero-rated items. You can also use Invoice Navigator's automatic Fixer tool to correct this instantly.
Yes, BR-Z-01 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-Z-01 can be automatically corrected using Invoice Navigator's Fixer tool. Upload your invoice and the tool will identify and fix common issues, including zero vat rate requires exemption reason.
BR-Z-01 is commonly seen in exports from All invoicing software. These software packages sometimes generate invoices that need adjustment to meet full compliance standards.
See Also
Related Errors
Last updated: 27 February 2026
Handle BR-Z-01 Automatically in Your Pipeline
The compliance engine auto-remediates this error with controlled safety policies and evidence pack generation.