Fix BR-18: Seller tax representative name missing

BR-18 in your own invoice? Upload the file and find every error in seconds.

What does BR-18 mean?

The Seller tax representative party (BG-11) represents the Seller in tax matters, usually in cross-border cases. If the invoice names such a tax representative, it must also carry that party's name (BT-62). The rule applies only if a tax representative is stated.

Common causes of BR-18

The element ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty is present, but ram:Name is missing or empty.
Only the VAT identifier of the tax representative was set, the name was forgotten.
An empty tax representative element was created although no tax representative exists.

How to fix BR-18

Find the faulty spot in the XML. Open the XML of the invoice and go to field BT-62 along this XPath://rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement/ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty/ram:Name
Apply the fix. Add the element ram:Name with the name of the tax representative inside ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty, for example Steuerkanzlei Weber und Partner. Without a tax representative, leave out the whole element ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty.
Validate again. Save the file and validate it again to check that BR-18 is no longer reported.

Concrete fix

Add the element ram:Name with the name of the tax representative inside ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty, for example <ram:Name>Steuerkanzlei Weber und Partner</ram:Name>. Without a tax representative, leave out the whole element ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty.

XPath//rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement/ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty/ram:Name

Before / after: the XML example

This is the spot in question before and after the fix (Cross Industry Invoice, ZUGFeRD/Factur-X).

Wrong

<ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement>
  <ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty>
    <ram:SpecifiedTaxRegistration>
      <ram:ID schemeID="VA">DE123456789</ram:ID>
    </ram:SpecifiedTaxRegistration>
  </ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty>
</ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement>

Correct

<ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement>
  <ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty>
    <ram:Name>Steuerkanzlei Weber und Partner</ram:Name>
    <ram:SpecifiedTaxRegistration>
      <ram:ID schemeID="VA">DE123456789</ram:ID>
    </ram:SpecifiedTaxRegistration>
  </ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty>
</ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement>

Frequent questions about BR-18

When do I need a tax representative in the invoice?

Only if the Seller actually has a tax representative. Without one, leave out ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty entirely.

Where does the name go?

In the element ram:Name directly under ram:SellerTaxRepresentativeTradeParty.

Is the representative's VAT identifier enough?

No. The VAT identifier does not replace the name. BT-62 (ram:Name) is mandatory whenever a tax representative is present.

Related error codes

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