BG-14Invoicing periodBT-73Invoicing period start dateBT-74Invoicing period end date
Official rule text
[BR-CO-19] If Invoicing period (BG-14) is used, the Invoicing period start date (BT-73) or the Invoicing period end date (BT-74) shall be filled, or both.
Why this error occurs
This rule only applies when another field has a certain value (for example a payment means code or an invoice type). Your file triggers the condition but does not provide the data that then becomes mandatory, or provides data that is then forbidden.
How to fix it
Either change the triggering value so the condition no longer applies, or add/remove the dependent elements as the rule text describes. Check the condition in the XPath test above to see exactly which value triggers it.
What the validator checks
Checked element (context):
UBL
cac:InvoicePeriodTest (XPath):
exists(cbc:StartDate) or exists(cbc:EndDate) or (exists(cbc:DescriptionCode) and not(exists(cbc:StartDate)) and not(exists(cbc:EndDate)))CII
//ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement/ram:BillingSpecifiedPeriodTest (XPath):
(ram:StartDateTime) or (ram:EndDateTime)Check your invoice
Drop your XML or PDF on the validator and every failed rule is linked to its page here. Free, no account, the file is not stored.
Same check via API:
curl -F file=@invoice.xml https://einvoicechecker.com/v1/validateRelated rules
BR-29If both Invoicing period start date and Invoicing period end date are given then the…BR-IC-11In an Invoice with a VAT breakdown where the VAT category code is "Intra-community…BR-CO-03Tax point date and tax point date code both givenBR-CO-04Invoice line without VAT category code (BT-151)BR-CO-05Document level allowance reason code and Document level allowance reason shall…BR-CO-06Document level charge reason code and Document level charge reason shall indicate the…BR-CO-07Invoice line allowance reason code and Invoice line allowance reason shall indicate…BR-CO-08Invoice line charge reason code and Invoice line charge reason shall indicate the same…
Frequently asked questions
What does BR-CO-19 mean?
BR-CO-19 is a en 16931 core rule: If Invoicing period (BG-14) is used, the Invoicing period start date (BT-73) or the Invoicing period end date (BT-74) shall be filled, or both.
Will my invoice be rejected because of BR-CO-19?
Yes. BR-CO-19 is flagged "fatal"; validators (KoSIT, Peppol access points, the German ZRE/OZG-RE portals) reject the invoice until it is fixed.
Which formats does BR-CO-19 apply to?
Every EN 16931 invoice: XRechnung, ZUGFeRD 2.x / Factur-X (profiles EN 16931, EXTENDED, XRECHNUNG), Peppol BIS Billing 3.0, and national CIUS such as the Dutch NLCIUS or the Italian/Spanish profiles. Syntax: UBL and CII.
Source: EN 16931-1:2017 schematron (CEN TC434, via Peppol BIS 3.0.20). Catalogue generated from the official schematron on 2026-10-14.