BR-DE-CVD-01: The element … "Contract reference" must be transmitted

StandardXRechnung 3.0.2 (KoSIT, German CIUS of EN 16931)SeverityError: the invoice is rejectedSyntaxUBL, CIIBusiness terms

BT-12 Contract reference

Applies toXRechnung 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.

Official rule text

[BR-DE-CVD-01] The element … "Contract reference" (BT-12) must be transmitted.

Official text (German): Das Element … "Contract reference" (BT-12) muss übermittelt werden.

Why this error occurs

The element is mandatory in this standard but is missing or empty in your file. Typical causes: the field is not filled in the invoicing software, the ERP export does not map it, or the element is present but contains only whitespace.

How to fix it

Add the element with a non-empty value at the position given by the context above. Check the master data (seller, buyer, payment) in your invoicing software; most tools expose the field under the business term name shown here. Re-validate after the change.

What the validator checks

Checked element (context):

UBL

(/ubl:Invoice | /cn:CreditNote)[$isCVD]

Test (XPath):

cac:ContractDocumentReference/cbc:ID[boolean(normalize-space(.))]

CII

/rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice[$isCVD]/rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement

Test (XPath):

ram:ContractReferencedDocument/ram:IssuerAssignedID[boolean(normalize-space(.))]

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.

Check your invoice →

Same check via API:

curl -F file=@invoice.xml https://einvoicechecker.com/v1/validate

Related rules

BR-DE-CVD-02 The element … "Tender or lot reference" must be transmitted
BR-DE-CVD-03 An invoice must contain at least one … INVOICE LINE in which the Scheme identifier of…
BR-DE-CVD-04 An … "Item classification identifier" with the Scheme identifier 'CVD' must contain a…
BR-DE-CVD-05 If, within … ITEM ATTRIBUTES, … "Item attribute name" has the value 'cva', … "Item…
BR-DE-CVD-06-a If the Scheme identifier of … "Item classification identifier" is given with the value…
BR-DE-CVD-06-b If … "Item attribute name" is given with the value 'cva', exactly one … "Item…

Frequently asked questions

What does BR-DE-CVD-01 mean?

BR-DE-CVD-01 is a xrechnung rule: The element … "Contract reference" (BT-12) must be transmitted.

Will my invoice be rejected because of BR-DE-CVD-01?

Yes. BR-DE-CVD-01 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-CVD-01 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.