PEPPOL-EN16931-R003 No buyer reference and no purchase order number

What it means

A Peppol invoice must carry at least one reference the buyer can match: the buyer reference (BT-10) or the purchase order number (BT-13). This invoice has neither.

Common causes

• The customer gave no order number or reference, and the field was left empty.
• The reference is written in a note or the line description instead of the reference field.
• The invoicing software has no field for the buyer reference, or doesn't export it.

How to fix it

Ask the buyer which reference they need (a PO number, a cost centre, a contact name) and enter it as buyer reference or order number. If the buyer has none, many senders agree a fixed reference with them.

Who fixes it: The sender fills it in; the buyer tells the sender which reference to use.

Invoice fields involved

BT-10 BT-13

Related rules

• BR-DE-15 The buyer reference (Leitweg-ID) is missing

This is our own plain-language explanation, not the official rule text. The official definition is in the first source below.