Rules / BR-55 · Markdown

BR-55

EN 16931-1 layer: en16931

Checked against Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 2026.5

What does BR-55 mean? Each Preceding Invoice reference (BG-3) shall contain a Preceding Invoice reference (BT-25).

Why did my invoice fail BR-55?

Each Preceding Invoice reference group (BG-3) must contain a Preceding Invoice reference (BT-25), the identifier of the earlier invoice being referenced (typically the original invoice that a corrective invoice or credit note relates to). Without it the reference to the prior invoice is empty and untraceable.

Official rule text

Each Preceding Invoice reference (BG-3) shall contain a Preceding Invoice reference (BT-25).

Common causes

• cac:BillingReference/cac:InvoiceDocumentReference was added without its cbc:ID.
• The preceding invoice number was left blank on a corrective invoice or credit note.
• The issue date (BT-26) was populated but the mandatory reference ID was omitted.

How do I fix it?

In cac:BillingReference/cac:InvoiceDocumentReference add <cbc:ID>INV-2026-0042</cbc:ID> (the preceding invoice number).

Related rules

BR-01 · BR-02 · BR-03 · BR-04 · BR-05 · BR-06 · BR-07 · BR-08