What does BR-CL-7 mean?
If the invoice refers to an object or document, the type of that reference must be coded with a qualifier from UNTDID 1153.
Common causes of BR-CL-7
- Free text such as 'Contract' instead of a UNTDID 1153 qualifier in ram:ReferenceTypeCode
- The scheme was written into the @schemeID attribute of ram:IssuerAssignedID instead of ram:ReferenceTypeCode
- A code outside the UNTDID 1153 list was used
How to fix BR-CL-7
- Find the faulty spot in the XML. Open the XML of the invoice and go to field BT-18-1 along this XPath:
//ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement/ram:AdditionalReferencedDocument/ram:ReferenceTypeCode - Apply the fix. Code the scheme of the object identifier (BT-18-1) in the element ram:ReferenceTypeCode with a qualifier from UNTDID 1153, for example 'ON' (buyer order number), 'IV' (invoice number), 'DQ' (delivery note number), 'VN' (supplier order number), 'ACD' (additional reference). No free text, no in-house abbreviation.
- Validate again. Save the file and validate it again to check that BR-CL-7 is no longer reported.
Code the scheme of the object identifier (BT-18-1) in the element ram:ReferenceTypeCode with a qualifier from UNTDID 1153, for example 'ON' (buyer order number), 'IV' (invoice number), 'DQ' (delivery note number), 'VN' (supplier order number), 'ACD' (additional reference). No free text, no in-house abbreviation.
//ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeAgreement/ram:AdditionalReferencedDocument/ram:ReferenceTypeCodeBefore / after: the XML example
This is the spot in question before and after the fix (Cross Industry Invoice, ZUGFeRD/Factur-X).
<ram:AdditionalReferencedDocument>
<ram:IssuerAssignedID>V-2026-4711</ram:IssuerAssignedID>
<ram:TypeCode>130</ram:TypeCode>
<ram:ReferenceTypeCode>Vertrag</ram:ReferenceTypeCode>
</ram:AdditionalReferencedDocument>
<ram:AdditionalReferencedDocument>
<ram:IssuerAssignedID>V-2026-4711</ram:IssuerAssignedID>
<ram:TypeCode>130</ram:TypeCode>
<ram:ReferenceTypeCode>ON</ram:ReferenceTypeCode>
</ram:AdditionalReferencedDocument>
Frequent questions about BR-CL-7
Where exactly does the scheme of the object identifier go?
Do I always have to state BT-18-1?
Related error codes
Check BR-CL-7 automatically
Instead of digging through the XML by hand you can validate your ZUGFeRD or XRechnung file online – upload the PDF or the XML and you get every error with rule ID, affected field, fix and XPath, as a readable report or as JSON through the API.