BR-17: Payee name (BT-59) is missing

What does this mean?

If a payee different from the seller (Payee, BG-10) is stated, its name (Payee name, BT-59) must be provided in the invoice. The name is missing, or the stated payee is not actually different.
The official EN 16931 check also reports the error if the payee has the same name or identifier as the seller (in CII also the same legal registration identifier).

Typical causes

Only an identifier or bank details were given for the payee, but no name.
The seller's data were repeated as payee although the seller receives the payment itself.

How to fix the error

If the seller receives the payment itself, omit the payee group (BG-10) entirely.
If a third party receives the payment (e.g. a factoring company), state its name as BT-59; name and identifiers must not be those of the seller.
CII: ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement/ram:PayeeTradeParty/ram:Name, UBL: cac:PayeeParty/cac:PartyName/cbc:Name.
Generate and validate the invoice again.

In E-Rechnungsfreund

In the invoice form ("Experte" view), section "Abw. Zahlungsempfänger (BG-10)" (payee), fill in the field "Name (BT-27/44)". If the payee is the seller itself, clear the checkbox "Abweichenden Zahlungsempfänger angeben" (state a different payee).

Example

Wrong

<ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement>
  ...
  <ram:PayeeTradeParty>
    <ram:ID>4711</ram:ID>
  </ram:PayeeTradeParty>
  ...
</ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement>

Correct

<ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement>
  ...
  <ram:PayeeTradeParty>
    <ram:ID>4711</ram:ID>
    <ram:Name>Factoring Bank AG</ram:Name>
  </ram:PayeeTradeParty>
  ...
</ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement>

Related validation rules

• BR-01: Specification identifier (BT-24) is missing
• BR-02: Invoice number (BT-1) is missing
• BR-03: Invoice issue date (BT-2) is missing
• BR-04: Invoice type code (BT-3) is missing
• BR-05: Invoice currency code (BT-5) is missing
• BR-06: Seller name (BT-27) is missing

Frequently asked questions

Why is the error reported although a name is given?

The EN 16931 check additionally requires that the payee actually differs from the seller. If name or identifier (in CII also the legal registration identifier) match those of the seller, it fails as well. In that case omit the payee.