e-invoice validator

Peppol errors

PEPPOL-COMMON-R043: Belgian enterprise number MUST be stated in the correct format

The official rule

Belgian enterprise number MUST be stated in the correct format.

Rule pages: PEPPOL-COMMON-R043

What it means

Wherever an identifier carries schemeID="0208" (the Belgian enterprise number), the value must be exactly 10 digits and its last two digits must be the correct check: 97 minus the first eight digits modulo 97. The rule looks at cbc:EndpointID, cac:PartyIdentification/cbc:ID and cbc:CompanyID, for both seller and buyer.

Common causes

Example

Wrong:

<cbc:EndpointID schemeID="0208">0123.456.749</cbc:EndpointID>

Right:

<cbc:EndpointID schemeID="0208">0123456749</cbc:EndpointID>

How to fix it

  1. Find every element with schemeID="0208": the same number is often repeated in cbc:EndpointID and cac:PartyLegalEntity/cbc:CompanyID.
  2. Keep only the digits. Check that there are 10, including any leading zero.
  3. If it still fails, the number itself is wrong: compare it with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (KBO/BCE).
  4. If the same number appears in several places, correct it everywhere, and correct the source in your software so the next invoice does not fail too.

Automatic repair handles this when removing BE, dots and spaces gives a number with a valid check digit. A number that fails the check is left alone: we do not guess digits.

Check your invoice against the Peppol rules

Paste the UBL XML: you get every error at once (UBL schema, EN 16931, Peppol BIS 3.0), with the fix for each one. Free, 3 checks a day, no account. The file is not stored.

Frequently asked questions

Is a leading 0 mandatory?

The enterprise number has 10 digits. Older numbers start with 0 and, according to Peppol service providers, numbers starting with 1 are issued since 2025. The rule itself only requires 10 digits and the check.

Can I use BE0123456749 instead?

Yes, as a VAT number with scheme 9925, not with scheme 0208. Whether the invoice can be delivered to that address depends on the buyer being registered under it.

How is the check digit calculated?

Take the first eight digits as a number, compute it modulo 97 and subtract the result from 97. For 0123456749: 01234567 mod 97 = 48, 97 - 48 = 49.

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