XRechnung error BR-DE-15: Leitweg-ID missing
BR-DE-15 is the most common rejection reason for XRechnung invoices. The Buyer reference (Leitweg-ID) is missing or has an invalid format. The field cbc:BuyerReference in UBL format or ram:BuyerReference in CII format must be present and non-empty.
Last updated: 2026-06-01
Affected field
cbc:BuyerReference (UBL) / ram:BuyerReference (CII)
Cause
The Leitweg-ID was not stored in the invoicing system, was left empty, or has a format that does not match the German specification. The correct Leitweg-ID must be provided by the invoice recipient.
Fix
Ask the invoice recipient for the correct Leitweg-ID. A Leitweg-ID has the format 'NNNNN-NNNNN-NN' (example: 04011000-1234512345-06). Enter it in the BuyerReference field.
<cbc:BuyerReference></cbc:BuyerReference>
<cbc:BuyerReference>04011000-1234512345-06</cbc:BuyerReference>
Check your invoice for this and other errors.
Validate your invoice →Frequently asked questions
What is the Leitweg-ID?▼
The Leitweg-ID is a unique identifier of the receiving unit at the invoice recipient. It is assigned by the recipient (e.g., a government agency or company) and is used to automatically route incoming invoices in the recipient's system.
Where do I find my customer's Leitweg-ID?▼
The Leitweg-ID is communicated by the invoice recipient — in the purchase order, framework contract, or on the recipient's website. For federal agencies in Germany, it is listed in the Leitweg-ID directory or the central government invoicing portal (ZRE).
Does BR-DE-15 apply to Factur-X?▼
No. BR-DE-15 is an XRechnung-specific rule. Factur-X and ZUGFeRD do not require a Leitweg-ID, as these formats are primarily used in the B2B sector.