What does BR-CO-15 mean?

The invoice total including VAT must equal the total excluding VAT plus the total VAT amount. Check the underlying totals and rounding.

Does successful validation mean the buyer accepted the invoice?

No. Validation checks the document’s rules. Delivery and commercial acceptance are separate statuses.

Must I issue a credit note after every rejection?

No. A failed technical send does not automatically require a credit note. Check whether the invoice was delivered, booked or needs a financial correction.

Peppol invoice rejected: identify and fix the cause

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A Peppol invoice can fail technical validation before delivery or be rejected by the buyer after receipt. First check who rejected it and read the exact message: a rule code such as BR-CO-15 points to a validation problem, not a commercial dispute.

Separate technical and business rejection

A sending access point may reject XML that fails Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 Schematron checks. The report normally identifies a rule and may include an XML location. This does not mean the buyer received and refused the invoice.

A buyer can instead reject a received invoice for a wrong purchase order, disputed amounts or another business reason. That refusal may arrive through an Invoice Response, where supported, or through another agreed channel.

Find the exact error

Use the free XML validator on this site to inspect the failed rule and reported location. Validate the actual XML sent, not just the PDF preview. A valid XML file does not prove delivery or buyer acceptance.

Check totals and rounding, including BR-CO-15.
Supply a buyer reference or purchase order reference as required by R003.
Check VAT categories, rates and required exemption reasons.
Verify the receiver endpoint separately; a wrong address can prevent routing.

Correct the source and resend safely

Fix the data in your accounting software, regenerate the XML and validate again. For an undelivered technical failure, resend the corrected invoice according to your numbering workflow; do not create a duplicate accounting entry merely to retry delivery.

If the invoice is already booked and needs cancellation or a financial correction, follow the applicable correction process, often a credit note and a new invoice. For a business refusal, agree the correction with the buyer before resending.

Frequently asked questions

What does BR-CO-15 mean?: The invoice total including VAT must equal the total excluding VAT plus the total VAT amount. Check the underlying totals and rounding.
Does successful validation mean the buyer accepted the invoice?: No. Validation checks the document’s rules. Delivery and commercial acceptance are separate statuses.
Must I issue a credit note after every rejection?: No. A failed technical send does not automatically require a credit note. Check whether the invoice was delivered, booked or needs a financial correction.