BR-S-03
An Invoice that contains a Document level allowance (BG-20) where the Document level allowance VAT category code (BT-95) is "Standard rated" shall contain the Seller VAT Identifier (BT-31), the Seller tax registration identifier (BT-32) and/or the Seller tax representative VAT identifier (BT-63).
What does this rule mean?
A document-level allowance is standard rated (category S) but the invoice carries no seller tax identifier (BT-31, BT-32 or BT-63).
A standard-rated allowance reduces the tax — whoever reduces it must be identifiable for tax purposes.
- BG-20
- Document level allowances (group)
- BT-31
- Seller VAT identifier
- BT-32
- Seller tax registration identifier
- BT-63
- Seller tax representative VAT identifier
- BT-95
- Document level allowance VAT category code
Official rule message (standard)
An Invoice that contains a Document level allowance (BG-20) where the Document level allowance VAT category code (BT-95) is "Standard rated" shall contain the Seller VAT Identifier (BT-31), the Seller tax registration identifier (BT-32) and/or the Seller tax representative VAT identifier (BT-63).
Where the rule applies
Syntax: CII · UBL
The same rule, expressed twice: UBL and CII name the same fields with different paths. Running a CII file against the UBL rules is why you get errors that mean nothing.
UBL
/ubl:Invoice | /cn:CreditNote
CII
//ram:SpecifiedTradeAllowanceCharge[ram:ChargeIndicator/udt:Indicator=false()]/ram:CategoryTradeTax[ram:CategoryCode = 'S'][upper-case(ram:TypeCode) = 'VAT']
Technical test
The rule passes when this Schematron expression holds true:
/rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice/rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement/ram:SellerTradeParty/ram:SpecifiedTaxRegistration/ram:ID[@schemeID = ('VA', 'FC')] or /rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice/rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement/ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty/ram:SpecifiedTaxRegistration/ram:ID[@schemeID = 'VA']How to fix it
Touches amounts, VAT or IBAN. We never change these automatically — correct them in your source data.
Add the seller VAT identifier (BT-31), the tax registration identifier (BT-32) or the tax representative VAT identifier (BT-63).
Correct the affected entry in your XML, then re-check the invoice. Validation runs locally in your browser — your file never leaves your machine.
Check an e-invoice here
Drop an XML or ZUGFeRD PDF file here. Validation runs locally in your browser against EN 16931 — your file never leaves your machine.