BR-25: item name is missing

By Philippe Kimpe and Jelle Heyvaert, authors of E-facturatie Ontcijferd · Updated on 11 October 2026

Error code BR-25 means: an invoice line has no name for the item or service.

Rule set: EN 16931 · Severity: error (fatal): an Access Point rejects the invoice · Checked against the official rules of May 2026

What does BR-25 mean?

The validator shows this message (as worded in the official rules):

[BR-25]-Each Invoice line (BG-25) shall contain the Item name (BT-153).

Every invoice line must have a name for what you invoice (BT-153, cac:Item/cbc:Name). A description (cbc:Description) or an item code alone is not enough.

Common causes

• The export puts the description in Description and leaves Name empty.
• An item in the software only has a code, no name.
• A free text line or a discount was sent as an invoice line without a name.

How to fix it as the sender

1. Give every item and service a clear name.
2. Make sure the export puts that name in cac:Item/cbc:Name. A longer explanation can go in Description.
3. Put discounts on a line in the cac:AllowanceCharge of that line, not in a separate line without a name.

Received an invoice with this error?

An invoice with this error is not compliant. Ask the supplier for a corrected invoice and do not change the XML yourself.

Example in the XML

❌ Wrong

<cac:InvoiceLine>
  ...
  <cac:Item>
    <cac:ClassifiedTaxCategory>
      ...
    </cac:ClassifiedTaxCategory>
  </cac:Item>
  ...
</cac:InvoiceLine>

✅ Correct

<cac:InvoiceLine>
  ...
  <cac:Item>
    <cbc:Name>Advies e-facturatie</cbc:Name>
    <cac:ClassifiedTaxCategory>
      ...
    </cac:ClassifiedTaxCategory>
  </cac:Item>
  ...
</cac:InvoiceLine>

Both snippets come from a complete test invoice that we checked with our validator: the wrong version gives exactly this message, the correct version no errors at all.

Official rule

The full rule with its technical test (Schematron) is in the official Peppol documentation:

• BR-25 on docs.peppol.eu

Related error codes

• BR-27: The net price of an item on an invoice line is negative. That is never allowed.
• PEPPOL-EN16931-R120: The net amount of an invoice line does not equal quantity × unit price, plus charges and minus allowances on that line.

Frequently asked questions about BR-25

What is the difference between Name and Description?

Name is the short name of the item or service and is mandatory. Description is an optional, longer description.

Is an item code enough?

No. A code can go in SellersItemIdentification, but the name must always be there as well.

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