E-invoice error explained

BR-DE-1: Payment instructions are missing

An XRechnung must state how it is paid.

What the rule checks

An XRechnung must state how it is paid. It needs the payment instructions group (BG-16) with at least the payment means code (BT-81). Depending on the code, more data is needed: the bank account for a transfer (BR-DE-23), card data for a card payment (BR-DE-24), mandate data for a direct debit (BR-DE-25). The rule also applies to credit notes and invoices that are already paid.

Official rule text

An invoice (INVOICE) must contain information on "PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS" (BG-16).

Source: KoSIT configuration XRechnung 3.0.2 (31 Jan 2026).

Typical causes

  • No bank account is maintained in the company data, and the export then leaves the block out.
  • The invoice is already paid or settled, so the export writes no payment data.
  • A credit note was created without payment means.

How to fix it

Add ram:SpecifiedTradeSettlementPaymentMeans with ram:TypeCode inside ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement. Common codes: 58 SEPA credit transfer, 30 non-SEPA credit transfer, 59 SEPA direct debit, 48 bank card, 54 credit card, 55 debit card. With 58, your IBAN goes in ram:PayeePartyCreditorFinancialAccount/ram:IBANID. The block goes after ram:InvoiceCurrencyCode and before ram:ApplicableTradeTax.

Example

Wrong (CII)

<ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement>
  <ram:InvoiceCurrencyCode>EUR</ram:InvoiceCurrencyCode>
  <ram:ApplicableTradeTax>...</ram:ApplicableTradeTax>
</ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement>

Right (CII)

<ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement>
  <ram:InvoiceCurrencyCode>EUR</ram:InvoiceCurrencyCode>
  <ram:SpecifiedTradeSettlementPaymentMeans>
    <ram:TypeCode>58</ram:TypeCode>
    <ram:PayeePartyCreditorFinancialAccount>
      <ram:IBANID>DE02120300000000202051</ram:IBANID>
    </ram:PayeePartyCreditorFinancialAccount>
  </ram:SpecifiedTradeSettlementPaymentMeans>
  <ram:ApplicableTradeTax>...</ram:ApplicableTradeTax>
</ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement>

In Dynamics 365, Business Central and Finance

Sales / Project Operations: Sales and Project Operations have no e-invoice output out of the box. In the WBS Invoice Accelerator for Dynamics 365 the bank details come from the brand profile (IBAN, BIC). With an IBAN there, the Accelerator writes code 58 with the IBAN and BIC. Without an IBAN the e-invoice has no payment instructions and BR-DE-1 fails.

Business Central: Fill IBAN, SWIFT Code and Bank Name on the Company Information page, Payments FastTab. Also check the Payment Method Code on the sales document.

Finance: Under Organization administration > Organizations > Legal entities, Bank account information FastTab, the Bank account field must point to a bank account with a valid IBAN.

Related error codes

Check your invoice for free. The validator shows every finding with an explanation and its location in the XML.