BR-4: invoice type code missing
The invoice does not state a document type code (BT-3). This code signals whether the document is an invoice, a credit note, or a corrected invoice — without it the recipient's system cannot determine how to process the document.
Last updated: 2026-07-09
Affected field
BT-3 Invoice type code / cbc:InvoiceTypeCode or cbc:CreditNoteTypeCode (UBL) / rsm:ExchangedDocument/ram:TypeCode (CII)
Cause
The element is missing from the XML, or empty. Common when a custom invoice template was built without mapping this field, or when the UBL export uses the wrong element (InvoiceTypeCode on a CreditNote document, or vice versa).
Fix
Add a numeric code in cbc:InvoiceTypeCode (UBL invoice), cbc:CreditNoteTypeCode (UBL credit note), or ram:TypeCode (CII). Use a code from the UNTDID 1001 list — see BR-CL-01 for accepted values. 380 for a standard invoice.
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Frequently asked questions
How is this different from BR-CL-01?▼
BR-4 checks that the field is present. BR-CL-01 checks that its value is in the accepted code list. A file can pass BR-4 (field filled) while failing BR-CL-01 (wrong value).
Is the code the same for an invoice and a credit note?▼
No. A UBL invoice document uses cbc:InvoiceTypeCode; a UBL credit note document uses cbc:CreditNoteTypeCode. In CII, both use ram:TypeCode with a different value (380 vs 381).