Error code BR-CO-09
A VAT number has no country prefix
VAT numbers (BT-31, BT-48, BT-63) must start with their country code, such as BE or DE (Greece may use EL).
The official rule
“The Seller VAT identifier (BT-31), the Seller tax representative VAT identifier (BT-63) and the Buyer VAT identifier (BT-48) shall have a prefix in accordance with ISO code ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 by which the country of issue may be identified. Nevertheless, Greece may use the prefix ‘EL’.”
Official text, in the language the rule set publishes it in.
Fields named: BT-31 · BT-63 · BT-48
Common causes
- The VAT number was entered without its country letters, e.g. 0712345630 instead of BE0712345630.
- A company number was put in the VAT number field.
How to fix it
- Write VAT numbers with the country code in front, without spaces or dots.
Where to fix it in your software
- orgaMAX: Stammdaten › Meine Firma (help page)
- Banqup:
Do not enter 0% VAT for them: select Outside the scope of VAT as the VAT treatment instead.
(help page)
From each provider's own help page, read on 25 October 2026. Menus can change; we are not linked to these providers.
Wrong vs. right (UBL)
Wrong
<cac:PartyTaxScheme> <cbc:CompanyID>0712345630</cbc:CompanyID> <cac:TaxScheme><cbc:ID>VAT</cbc:ID></cac:TaxScheme> </cac:PartyTaxScheme>
Right
<cac:PartyTaxScheme> <cbc:CompanyID>BE0712345630</cbc:CompanyID> <cac:TaxScheme><cbc:ID>VAT</cbc:ID></cac:TaxScheme> </cac:PartyTaxScheme>