BG-19Direct debitBT-81Payment means type code
Official rule text
[BR-DE-25-a] If BT-81 "Payment means type code" contains a code for direct debits (59), exactly BG-19 "DIRECT DEBIT" must be transmitted.
Official text (German): Wenn BT-81 "Payment means type code" einen Schlüssel für Lastschriften enthält (59), muss genau BG-19 "DIRECT DEBIT" übermittelt werden.
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
/ubl:Invoice/cac:PaymentMeans[normalize-space(cbc:PaymentMeansCode) = '59'] | /cn:CreditNote/cac:PaymentMeans[normalize-space(cbc:PaymentMeansCode) = '59']Test (XPath):
cac:PaymentMandateCII
/rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice/rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement/ram:SpecifiedTradeSettlementPaymentMeans[normalize-space(ram:TypeCode) = '59']Test (XPath):
/rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice/rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement/ram:SpecifiedTradePaymentTerms/ram:DirectDebitMandateID or /rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice/rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement/ram:CreditorReferenceID or ram:PayerPartyDebtorFinancialAccount/ram:IBANIDCheck 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-DE-23-bIf BT-81 "Payment means type code" contains a code for credit transfers (30, 58),…BR-DE-24-bIf BT-81 "Payment means type code" contains a code for card payments (48, 54, 55),…BR-DE-19Payment account identifier (BT-84) is not a valid IBANBR-DE-20"Debited account identifier" shall contain a valid IBAN if "Payment means type code"…BR-DE-23-aCredit transfer selected but no payee account (BG-17)BR-DE-24-aIf BT-81 "Payment means type code" contains a code for card payments (48, 54, 55),…BR-DE-25-bIf BT-81 "Payment means type code" contains a code for direct debits (59), BG-17 and…BR-DE-30If "DIRECT DEBIT" BG-19 is present, "Bank assigned creditor identifier" BT-90 must be…
Frequently asked questions
What does BR-DE-25-a mean?
BR-DE-25-a is a xrechnung rule: If BT-81 "Payment means type code" contains a code for direct debits (59), exactly BG-19 "DIRECT DEBIT" must be transmitted.
Will my invoice be rejected because of BR-DE-25-a?
Yes. BR-DE-25-a 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-DE-25-a apply to?
XRechnung in UBL or CII syntax, including ZUGFeRD / Factur-X PDFs with the XRECHNUNG profile. Invoices to German public authorities (federal, state and municipal) must pass it. Syntax: UBL and CII.
Source: XRechnung 3.0.2, schematron 2.6.0 (KoSIT, September 2026). Catalogue generated from the official schematron on 2026-10-14.