BG-19Direct debitBT-89Mandate reference identifierBT-90Bank assigned creditor identifierBT-91Debited account identifier
Official rule text
[BR-DE-31] If "DIRECT DEBIT" BG-19 is present, "Debited account identifier" BT-91 must be transmitted.
Official text (German): Wenn "DIRECT DEBIT" BG-19 vorhanden ist, dann muss "Debited account identifier" BT-91 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 | /cn:CreditNoteTest (XPath):
not(cac:PaymentMeans/cac:PaymentMandate) or (cac:PaymentMeans/cac:PaymentMandate/cac:PayerFinancialAccount/cbc:ID)CII
/rsm:CrossIndustryInvoiceTest (XPath):
(($BT-89-path or $BT-90-path) and $BT-91-path) or $BG-19-not-existingCheck 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-30If "DIRECT DEBIT" BG-19 is present, "Bank assigned creditor identifier" BT-90 must be…BR-DE-20"Debited account identifier" shall contain a valid IBAN if "Payment means type code"…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-25-aIf BT-81 "Payment means type code" contains a code for direct debits (59), exactly…BR-DE-1Payment instructions (BG-16) are missingBR-DE-2Seller contact (BG-6) is missingBR-DE-3Seller city (BT-37) is missing
Frequently asked questions
What does BR-DE-31 mean?
BR-DE-31 is a xrechnung rule: If "DIRECT DEBIT" BG-19 is present, "Debited account identifier" BT-91 must be transmitted.
Will my invoice be rejected because of BR-DE-31?
Yes. BR-DE-31 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-31 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.