Peppol error codes

PEPPOL-COMMON-R043: invalid Belgian company number

By Philippe Kimpe and Jelle Heyvaert, authors of E-facturatie Ontcijferd · Updated on 13 October 2026

Error code PEPPOL-COMMON-R043 means: a number with scheme 0208 is not a valid Belgian company number: wrong format or wrong check digits.

Not sure about a number? Paste it into the Peppol ID explainer: the tool shows the check digit calculation and the valid variants. You see which schemes exist in the Peppol code lists.

Rule set: Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 · Severity: error (fatal): an Access Point rejects the invoice · Checked against the official rules of May 2026

What does PEPPOL-COMMON-R043 mean?

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

[PEPPOL-COMMON-R043]-Belgian enterprise number MUST be stated in the correct format.

Scheme 0208 stands for the Belgian company (enterprise) number from the CBE. Wherever that scheme is used, Peppol checks the number: in the Peppol address (cbc:EndpointID, BT-34 and BT-49), in a party identification (cac:PartyIdentification/cbc:ID, BT-29 and BT-46) and in the legal registration (cbc:CompanyID, BT-30 and BT-47). The number must consist of exactly 10 digits, without dots or letters. The last two digits are check digits: 97 minus the remainder of the first eight digits divided by 97. For 0987654394 that is 97 − (09876543 mod 97) = 97 − 3 = 94.

Common causes

A typo in the number, so the check digits no longer match.
The number is stored with dots or spaces in the customer record, such as 0987.654.394.
The VAT number with BE in front (BE0987654394) is used with scheme 0208. It belongs with scheme 9925.
The leading 0 was lost, for example after an Excel import, leaving only 9 digits.
The number comes from the wrong customer record or an outdated list.

How to fix it as the sender

Look up the correct company number in the CBE or with our Peppol checker.
Store the number as 10 digits, without dots, spaces or BE. Add a leading 0 to a 9-digit number.
To use the VAT number, use scheme 9925 with BE in front. With scheme 0208, use only the 10 digits.
Check every place in the invoice where 0208 appears: Peppol address, party identification and legal registration, for both supplier and customer.

Received an invoice with this error?

If it is your own company number, give the correct number to your supplier. Otherwise an invoice with a wrong Peppol address will not reach you. If it is the supplier’s number, ask for a corrected invoice.

Example in the XML

❌ Wrong

<cbc:EndpointID schemeID="0208">0987654395</cbc:EndpointID>
<!-- check digits are wrong: 97 - (09876543 mod 97) = 94 -->
<cbc:EndpointID schemeID="0208">0987.654.394</cbc:EndpointID>
<cbc:EndpointID schemeID="0208">BE0987654394</cbc:EndpointID>
<cbc:EndpointID schemeID="0208">987654394</cbc:EndpointID>

✅ Correct

<cbc:EndpointID schemeID="0208">0987654394</cbc:EndpointID>
<!-- or -->
<!-- VAT number: scheme 9925 -->
<cbc:EndpointID schemeID="9925">BE0987654394</cbc:EndpointID>

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.

Try this error in the validator →

Good to know

R043 does not check whether the company exists or is on Peppol: an invented number with valid check digits passes. To know whether a customer can receive e-invoices, look the number up with the Peppol checker. Spaces before or after the number are accepted by the rule.

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.

Go to the Peppol validator →

Official rule

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

PEPPOL-COMMON-R043 on docs.peppol.eu

Related error codes

PEPPOL-EN16931-CL008: The scheme (schemeID) of the seller or buyer electronic address is not from the official Peppol code list.
PEPPOL-EN16931-R010 / PEPPOL-EN16931-R020: R010: the buyer electronic address is missing. R020: the seller electronic address is missing.

Frequently asked questions about PEPPOL-COMMON-R043

How do I check a Belgian company number myself?

Take the first eight digits, divide by 97 and take the remainder. 97 minus that remainder must equal the last two digits. For 0987654394: 09876543 mod 97 = 3, and 97 − 3 = 94.

Does R043 also apply to the VAT number (scheme 9925)?

No. R043 only checks numbers with scheme 0208. With 9925, use the VAT number with BE in front, for example BE0987654394.

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