PEPPOL-COMMON-R040:GLN must have a valid format according to GS1 rules
Fix: This requires user input to resolve. Review the relevant cbc: and cac: elements in your Invoice XML and provide the correct value. (PEPPOL-COMMON-R040). Provide the required value in the free validator.
GLN must have a valid format according to GS1 rules. This validation rule ensures Invoice compliance with Peppol BIS 3.0.
Engine Classification
Business data required · Explicit input workflow · No assumptions made
Required input: Correct GLN (Global Location Number)
What is PEPPOL-COMMON-R040?
PEPPOL-COMMON-R040 is a fatal validation rule defined in the Peppol BIS 3.0 specification. It validates the EndpointID element in the UBL invoice XML.
When this rule fires, the invoice is rejected by Peppol access points and never reaches the buyer.
Target path: //cbc:EndpointID[@schemeID='0088']
Why This Error Matters
Invoice will be rejected by PEPPOL validation. Invalid GLN cannot be used to identify parties or locations on the network.
PEPPOL-COMMON-R040 is a hard failure — the invoice must be corrected and re-sent before it can reach the recipient.
An invalid GLN means the Peppol network cannot route your invoice to the correct recipient. The Access Point will reject the invoice because it cannot verify the business location identifier.
Validator Behavior
- ·Causes invoice rejection
- ·Rejected by PEPPOL Access Points
- ·Error returned: PEPPOL-COMMON-R040
- ·Specification: Peppol BIS 3.0
How to Fix It
Find the correct GLN
Look up your company's GLN in the GS1 registry or on your GS1 membership certificate. GLNs are always exactly 13 digits.
Verify the check digit
The last digit is a check digit. If it was manually entered, a typo here is the most common cause of this error.
Update your settings
Correct the GLN in your invoicing software. This number identifies your company in the Peppol network.
Before / After
<Invoice> <!-- Issue: GLN must have a valid format according to GS1 rules --> </Invoice>
<Invoice> <!-- Issue resolved per Peppol BIS 3.0 --> </Invoice>
Technical Reference
//cbc:EndpointID[@schemeID='0088']Common Causes
- ·GLN entered with a typo in the last digit
- ·GLN copied from a barcode with OCR error
- ·Old GLN that was reassigned or deactivated
- ·Test GLN used in production
Seeing this in production? The API handles PEPPOL-COMMON-R040 automatically. See the fix response →
Commonly Seen In
Frequently Asked Questions
GLN must have a valid format according to GS1 rules. This validation rule ensures Invoice compliance with Peppol BIS 3.0.
This requires user input to resolve. Review the relevant cbc: and cac: elements in your Invoice XML and provide the correct value. (PEPPOL-COMMON-R040). You can also use Invoice Navigator's compliance engine to correct this automatically in your pipeline.
Yes, PEPPOL-COMMON-R040 is a critical error that will cause invoice rejection. It must be fixed before submission.
Many instances of PEPPOL-COMMON-R040 can be automatically corrected using Invoice Navigator's compliance engine. The fix is applied in your pipeline with full audit evidence.
PEPPOL-COMMON-R040 is commonly seen in exports from All invoicing software using GLN identifiers for Peppol routing. These packages sometimes generate invoices that need adjustment.
Related Errors
Related Content
Last updated: 3 March 2026
Validate your invoice
Drop your XML here to check for PEPPOL-COMMON-R040
Fix PEPPOL-COMMON-R040 with guided input
Upload your invoice and we'll ask for the missing data, then apply a safe, auditable fix.