Error code BR-CO-13 means: the total without VAT does not equal the sum of lines minus document-level allowances plus charges.
What does BR-CO-13 mean?
The validator shows this message (as worded in the official rules):
[BR-CO-13]-Invoice total amount without VAT (BT-109) = Σ Invoice line net amount (BT-131) - Sum of allowances on document level (BT-107) + Sum of charges on document level (BT-108).The total without VAT (BT-109, TaxExclusiveAmount) must equal the sum of the line amounts (BT-131), minus document-level allowances (BT-107, AllowanceTotalAmount) and plus document-level charges (BT-108, ChargeTotalAmount). A discount that is only processed in the total, without its own cac:AllowanceCharge, causes this error.
Common causes
- A discount, for example a payment discount, was deducted from the total without a separate document-level allowance.
- A charge, such as shipping costs, is included in the total but not as
cac:AllowanceCharge. - The total without VAT was not recalculated after the lines changed.
- Rounding differences between lines and total.
How to fix it as the sender
- Put every document-level allowance and charge in its own
cac:AllowanceChargewith a reason. - Recalculate the total without VAT: sum of lines, minus allowances, plus charges.
- Then check BR-CO-15 and BR-CO-16, which build on this total.
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:LegalMonetaryTotal>
<cbc:LineExtensionAmount currencyID="EUR">300.00</cbc:LineExtensionAmount>
<cbc:TaxExclusiveAmount currencyID="EUR">290.00</cbc:TaxExclusiveAmount>
...
</cac:LegalMonetaryTotal>
<!-- no allowance or charge at document level, so 300.00 -->✅ Correct
<cac:LegalMonetaryTotal>
<cbc:LineExtensionAmount currencyID="EUR">300.00</cbc:LineExtensionAmount>
<cbc:TaxExclusiveAmount currencyID="EUR">300.00</cbc:TaxExclusiveAmount>
...
</cac:LegalMonetaryTotal>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.
Good to know
A payment discount that only applies when the customer pays early does not simply belong in the total. Discuss the right treatment with your accountant before you put it in the XML.
Check your invoice
Drop your XML into the free validator. You see right away whether this error still occurs, with a link to the explanation for every message.
Official rule
The full rule with its technical test (Schematron) is in the official Peppol documentation:
Related error codes
- BR-CO-10: The total of the invoice lines at the bottom of the invoice does not equal the sum of the line amounts.
- BR-CO-15: The total with VAT is not equal to the total without VAT plus the VAT amount.
Frequently asked questions about BR-CO-13
What is the difference between BR-CO-10 and BR-CO-13?
BR-CO-10 compares the sum of lines with the line amounts. BR-CO-13 goes one step further and also takes document-level allowances and charges into account.
Where do I put a discount on the whole invoice?
In cac:AllowanceCharge at document level, with ChargeIndicator false, an amount and a VAT category. The total of those allowances goes into AllowanceTotalAmount.