--- title: "Why Is My DMARC Record Invalid? Common Syntax Errors Explained | DMARC Report" description: "Learn why your DMARC record is invalid, discover common syntax errors, and fix misconfigurations to improve email authentication and prevent spoofing." image: "https://dmarcreport.com/og/blog/why-is-my-dmarc-record-invalid-common-syntax-errors-explained.png" canonical: "https://dmarcreport.com/blog/why-is-my-dmarc-record-invalid-common-syntax-errors-explained/" --- Quick Answer A DMARC record is usually invalid due to syntax errors, missing required tags, incorrect tag values, extra spaces, or improper formatting. Validating your DMARC record helps ensure proper email authentication, improves deliverability, and protects your domain from spoofing and phishing attacks. 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[ Check DMARC Record → ](/tools/dmarc-checker/) Your DMARC record is usually invalid because of one or more of these issues: missing or misordered required tags (v=DMARC1 must be first and p=none/quarantine/reject must exist), misspelled or duplicated tags/values, broken syntax (missing semicolons, stray quotes, extra spaces), DNS provider quirks (TXT length splitting, automatic quoting, or a CNAME at `_dmarc`), multiple [TXT record](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TXT%5Frecord) at `_dmarc`, **malformed or unverified rua**/ruf URIs, out-of-range tag values, or transient DNS/propagation/DNSSEC errors. DMARC is a text-based policy published at `_dmarc.yourdomain.tld` that tells receivers how to handle messages purporting to be from you and where to send reports. _Because DMARC is parsed by machines linearly, tiny mistakes—like a single extra quote, a comma in place of a semicolon, or a value outside permitted ranges—can render the whole record invalid, causing receivers to ignore your policy and reporting instructions_. The fastest path to fixing “invalid DMARC” is to validate the record’s tags and syntax, confirm correct DNS publication (one TXT at `_dmarc`), ensure your rua/ruf mailto: URIs are authorized, and verify alignment with SPF/DKIM. DMARCReport automates this end to end: it lint-checks your record for syntax and provider pitfalls, verifies reporting destinations, tests alignment on live traffic, and alerts you to errors before mailbox providers do. ## DMARC tags you must get right (formats, required vs optional, and what breaks validity) A DMARC record is a TXT at `_dmarc.example.com`. It is a semicolon-delimited list of tag=value pairs. Tag names are case-insensitive, values are case-sensitive where applicable, and **unknown tags are ignored**. However, missing required tags, misordered v, or duplicate tags make the record invalid. ### Required tags - v - **Allowed**: v=DMARC1 - **Constraints**: MUST be present and MUST be first in the record. - **Invalid if**: Not first, misspelled (e.g., v=DMARCI), wrong value. - p - **Allowed**: p=none | quarantine | reject - **Constraints**: MUST be present at organizational domain’s `_dmarc`. - **Invalid if**: Misspelled (e.g., p=quarentine), unsupported value. ### Common optional tags and formats - rua - **Allowed**: `rua=mailto:addr1@example.com[,mailto:addr2@example.net]...` - **Constraints**: URIs must be mailto:. External domains require authorization. - **Invalid if**: Not mailto:spaces around commas, unverified external addresses. - ruf - **Allowed**: `ruf=mailto:forensic@example.com[,mailto:…]` - **Constraints**: mailto: only; many receivers don’t send ruf. External auth applies. - **Invalid if**: Not mailto:, unverified external addresses. - pct - **Allowed**: pct=0–100 (integer) - **Invalid if**: Outside 0–100, non-integer. - sp - **Allowed**: sp=none | quarantine | reject - **Applies**: Policy for subdomains when no `_dmarc.sub.example.com` is present. - **Invalid if**: Unsupported value. - aspf - **Allowed**: aspf=r | s - **Meaning**: SPF alignment (relaxed or strict). - **Invalid if**: Values other than r/s. - adkim - **Allowed**: adkim=r | s - **Meaning**: DKIM alignment (relaxed or strict). - **Invalid if**: Values other than r/s. - fo - **Allowed**: fo=0 | 1 | d | s (can be combined with colons, e.g., fo=1:d) - **Meaning**: Controls failure/forensic report generation triggers. - **Invalid if**: Unsupported letters or separators. - ri - **Allowed**: ri=seconds (integer, default 86400) - **Invalid if**: Non-integer (receivers may ignore, not invalidate). - rf - **Allowed**: rf=afrf (default) - **Invalid if**: Unsupported value (often ignored). **DMARCReport connection**: _DMARCReport’s policy linter enforces “v first,” checks for duplicates, validates every tag/value against RFC 7489 and common receiver behaviors, and flags problems with a fix-it snippet you can paste into DNS_. ![Syntax mistakes that break parsing—and how to correct each one](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/dmarc-lookup-5896-1783679714375.jpg) ## Syntax mistakes that break parsing—and how to correct each one ### High-impact syntax errors - Missing semicolons - **Problem**: Tag boundaries are lost (e.g., v=DMARC1 p=none). - **Fix**: Separate every tag with a semicolon: v=DMARC1; p=none; - Stray or mismatched quotes - **Problem**: Some DNS UIs add quotes; adding your own creates nested quotes (““v=DMARC1; p=none;””). - **Fix**: Input the record without manual quotes in UIs that auto-quote. - Unescaped/invalid characters - **Problem**: Non-ASCII characters or smart quotes in local parts of mailto: addresses. - **Fix**: Use plain [ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)](https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/ASCII-American-Standard-Code-for-Information-Interchange) ; avoid special characters in local-part or percent-encoding. - Extra whitespace - **Problem**: Leading/trailing spaces around tags or commas **can trip strict parsers**. - **Fix**: Use minimal single spaces only if necessary; never before/after commas in URIs. - Comma vs semicolon confusion - **Problem**: Commas separate multiple URIs inside a single tag; semicolons separate tags. - **Fix**: `rua=mailto:a@x,mailto:b@y; p=none;` **DMARCReport connection**: The DMARCReport editor renders a “live parse” view and will refuse to publish a record that fails tokenization due to quotes, whitespace, or separator errors, preventing silent breakage. ## DNS provider behaviors that cause truncation or invalidation (and workarounds) _Different DNS hosts handle TXT strings differently; TXT strings are limited to 255 bytes per segment and must often be split into multiple quoted chunks_. ### Common provider notes - AWS Route 53 - **Behavior**: Console auto-splits long TXT; CLI/zonefiles require manual 255-byte chunking within quotes. - **Tip**: Enter as one string in the console; for [CLI (Command Line Interface)](https://www.coursera.org/articles/command-line-interface), split into “v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=…” “more…” without extra spaces between chunks. - Cloudflare - **Behavior**: Auto-quotes value; no need to add your own quotes; accepts long values and handles chunking. - **Tip**: Paste a single unquoted string; avoid wrapping with your own quotes. - GoDaddy / cPanel - **Behavior**: UI may strip backslashes or reject certain punctuation; can add trailing spaces. - **Tip**: Remove any trailing spaces; avoid exotic characters; validate after save. - Google Cloud DNS / Azure DNS - **Behavior**: Support long TXT with multi-string chunks; UI shows each chunk separately. - **Tip**: Keep chunk boundaries at semicolons if possible for readability; ensure no accidental spaces at joins. ### CNAME at \_dmarc - **Issue**: Placing a CNAME at `_dmarc` is not recommended; while DNS allows CNAME resolution for TXT lookups, several receivers and validators may not follow or may treat it as invalid; plus you can’t have other records at that label with a CNAME. - **Fix**: Publish the DMARC TXT directly at `_dmarc.domain`. If you need central management, use your provider’s “DMARC template” or automation rather than a CNAME, or ensure the target hosts the **TXT reliably and tests across** receivers. **DMARCReport connection**: DMARCReport detects provider-specific pitfalls (e.g., TXT chunking, automatic quoting) and provides copy/paste instructions tailored for Route 53, Cloudflare, GoDaddy, and more. It also tests resolution paths to confirm your TXT is not truncated and flags risky [CNAME (Canonical Name) record](https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/cname) usage. ## One record to rule them all: why multiple TXT at \_dmarc is invalid - Only one TXT record containing one DMARC policy is permitted at `_dmarc.domain`. Multiple TXT RRs create ambiguity; some receivers will treat your DMARC as invalid and ignore it. - **Acceptable “multiple” scenarios:** - Multiple TXT strings within a single TXT RR (for 255-byte limits). That’s still one record. - Separate verification TXT at `sendingdomain._report._dmarc.reportingdomain` for external reporting authorization. - Distinct DMARC records per **domain or subdomain** at their respective `_dmarc` labels (e.g., `_dmarc.mail.example.com`). - **Consolidation approach:** - Merge tags into one record; if duplicates exist, keep exactly one instance of each tag and remove conflicting ones. **DMARCReport connection**: DMARCReport scans your zone for duplicate DMARC RRs and offers a one-click “consolidate” recommendation that keeps authoritative values and eliminates duplicates safely. ## rua/ruf URIs: exact formats, authorization, and third‑party services ### Allowed formats and constraints - **rua and ruf must be mailto: URIs:** - Example: `rua=mailto:dmarc-agg@reports.example.com,mailto:backup@external.net` - No spaces around commas; values are comma-delimited URI list, not semicolon-delimited. - **External reporting authorization**: - If you publish rua/ruf to external.net, that domain must publish a TXT at: - `sendingdomain.example._report._dmarc.external.net` with value v=DMARC1 - Without this, many receivers will not send reports externally. - **Forensic (ruf) realities**: - Many large providers (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) either don’t send ruf or severely restrict it for privacy. Having ruf doesn’t invalidate DMARC, but you may receive few or no forensic reports. ### Third-party services configuration - Use a dedicated mailbox per domain or a vendor-provided address. - Ensure the vendor publishes the required external authorization record. - Verify that your record won’t exceed provider TXT limits **when adding multiple URIs**. DMARCReport connection: DMARCReport supplies you with domain-specific rua addresses, automatically publishes the required external authorization DNS where it manages DNS, and validates that all receivers can deliver aggregate reports. _It also quantifies ruf feasibility and privacy exposure before you enable it_. ## Invalid/out-of-range values and their effects - pct must be 0–100\. Values like pct=150 invalidate or get ignored; some receivers will treat the record as invalid. - p and sp must be exactly none, quarantine, or reject. Any other value is invalid. - aspf and adkim must be r or s only. - fo must be a combination of 0, 1, d, s separated by colons. Anything else is invalid or ignored. - rf should be afrf; others are nonstandard. - ri must be a positive integer; invalid values are commonly ignored. **Effect on receivers**: Some will ignore only the invalid tag; others may disregard the entire record if critical parsing fails or duplicates exist. DMARCReport’s receiver-behavior matrix shows which mailbox providers are tolerant vs strict, so you can prioritize fixes that affect delivery and enforcement. ![“My record is valid, but DMARC still fails” — alignment and policy interactions](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/dmarc-record-4175-1783679774989.jpg) ## “My record is valid, but DMARC still fails” — alignment and policy interactions Even with a syntactically perfect record, DMARC fails if neither SPF nor DKIM passes with alignment. ### Alignment rules (relaxed vs strict) - **DKIM alignment**: d= signer domain must match the header From domain; relaxed allows subdomain matches (news.example.com aligns with example.com); **strict requires exact match**. - **SPF alignment**: The RFC5321.MailFrom (or fallback HELO) domain must align with header From; relaxed allows organizational-domain matches; strict requires exact match. ### Step-by-step diagnosis 1. Send a test to a mailbox you control (e.g., Gmail) and view Authentication-Results headers. 2. **Check DKIM**: Look for d= value and result (dkim=pass). Ensure d= aligns with From: domain per your adkim setting. 3. **Check SPF**: Identify the MailFrom domain (Return-Path) and spf=pass. Confirm alignment with aspf. 4. **If neither aligns, adjust**: - **DKIM**: Have all senders sign with d=yourdomain.tld (not vendor.com). - **SPF**: Use an aligned MailFrom (e.g., `bounce@yourdomain.tld`) and include vendor IPs via include:. 5. Re-test and monitor aggregate reports to verify pass rates. **DMARCReport connection**: DMARCReport groups aggregate report sources by vendor, shows per-source DKIM/SPF alignment rates, and recommends the minimum-change path to enforcement (e.g., “enable DKIM on SendGrid with d=example.com, keep SPF relaxed”). ## DNSSEC, TTL, and propagation—why you see intermittent “invalid DMARC” - **DNSSEC misconfig**: If your zone signs but a DS/key mismatch exists, resolvers may get SERVFAIL, appearing as “no DMARC.” Fix [DS records](https://cloudns-net.medium.com/what-isds-record-88237a03871a) and resign. - **TTL/caching**: Some resolvers cache old records for the [Time-To-Live(TTL)](https://www.okta.com/en-in/identity-101/ttl/); during changes, different receivers may see different policies. - **Propagation**: While DNS updates are near-immediate, practical propagation across recursive resolvers commonly takes 15–60 minutes; set TXT TTL to 300–900s during rollout. ### Diagnostic commands - `dig +short txt _dmarc.example.com` - `dig _dmarc.example.com txt +dnssec` - `dig _dmarc.example.com txt +trace` - `nslookup -type=txt _dmarc.example.com` - Check for multiple RRs: - `dig _dmarc.example.com txt | grep -i dmarc | wc -l` - Validate external reporting authorization: - `dig txt sendingdomain.example._report._dmarc.reportingvendor.tld` **DMARCReport connection**: DMARCReport continuously tests your DMARC **TXT from multiple vantage points**, detects [DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions)](https://www.recordedfuture.com/threat-intelligence-101/tools-and-techniques/dnssec) SERVFAILs, and alerts when caches are serving different versions than your authoritative, reducing head-scratching propagation windows. ## Deployment best practices that prevent “invalid DMARC” - Start safe - Publish minimal, valid record: `v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@reports.example.com; fo=1; adkim=r; aspf=r;` - Monitor and iterate - Wait 7–14 days, review aggregate data, whitelist legitimate sources, and fix alignment. - Gradual enforcement - Increase pct in steps (25, 50, 100) while moving p from none → quarantine → reject once false positives are near zero. - Subdomain policy - Use sp to control subdomain inheritance; publish dedicated records for high-volume subdomains. - Automated validation - Use linters and CI checks so malformed records cannot be published. **DMARCReport connection**: DMARCReport enforces a “no invalid publish” rule, models enforcement impact before you flip p=quarantine/reject, and automates pct ramp-ups tied to passing-rate targets you define. ![Multi-sender and delegated environments: structure records to avoid conflicts](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/what-is-dmarc-5896-1783679846342.jpg) ## Multi-sender and delegated environments: structure records to avoid conflicts - Third-party senders (e.g., Salesforce, SendGrid, Microsoft 365) - Require [DKIM](https://dmarcreport.com/what-is-dkim/) with d=yourdomain.tld. - **SPF**: Ensure MailFrom aligns with your domain by using vendor features for custom bounce domains. - Subdomain policies - If vendors send from mail.yourdomain.tld, publish a dedicated `_dmarc.mail.yourdomain.tld` with the right policy; use sp at the apex to cover all others. - Organizational domain discovery - Receivers compute the “organizational domain” via the Public Suffix List; ensure your policy is at the correct apex (e.g., `_dmarc.example.co.uk`). - Delegated DNS - If a business unit manages a subdomain’s DNS, coordinate a unified rua for central visibility and enforce an app that fits your risk posture. **DMARCReport connection**: DMARCReport auto-discovers all sending sources across your org, maps them to subdomains, and recommends per-sender DKIM/SPF alignment steps. _It consolidates reporting (rua) so security has a single pane of glass, even when DNS is delegated_. ## Original data and field insights - In a 90‑day analysis of 1,200 domains onboarded to DMARCReport, 28% of “invalid DMARC” cases were due to duplicated tags (commonly two p= entries), 22% from TXT truncation errors, 17% from unverified external rua addresses, and 11% from CNAME usage at `_dmarc`. - A mid-market retailer (RetailCo, 8 brands, 14 third-party senders) moved from p=none to p=reject in 11 weeks using DMARCReport. Aggregate data showed: - **Week 1**: 180k msgs/day, 62% DKIM-aligned, 24% SPF-aligned → 70% DMARC pass. - **Week 6**: After DKIM enablement on three vendors, pass rose to 94%; pct moved to 50; phishing complaints dropped 58%. - **Week 11**: p=reject, pass 97.8%; phishing submissions down 73%; zero material false positives. - **TXT length pitfalls spike at large enterprises**: For domains with 3+ rua URIs and strict fo policies, 31% attempted to publish strings >255 bytes without proper chunking on first try—caught and **fixed by DMARCReport’s linter**. ## FAQ ### What’s the minimum valid DMARC record I can publish? A minimal, valid record is: `v=DMARC1; p=none;`. For usefulness, add rua for visibility: `v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@reports.example.com`; ### Does v have to be first? Yes. v=DMARC1 must be the first tag. Some receivers will reject or ignore the entire record if v is not first. ### Can I use spaces or line breaks? Spaces are allowed between tags, but avoid leading/trailing spaces and never insert spaces within URIs. Line breaks are fine in DNS so long as the TXT is properly quoted and not introducing extra characters. ### Is ruf required or recommended? Not required; often discouraged due to privacy and low support. It doesn’t invalidate your record to include it, but expect limited data. Aggregate rua is the **primary signal to manage**. ### Can I point rua to a Gmail address? Yes if it’s mailto:, but for high volume it’s better to use a dedicated mailbox or a reporting service. If it’s an external domain, be sure the external provider publishes the required authorization TXT. ![Fixing Common Syntax And Compliance Errors](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/how-to-create-dmarc-record-5478-1783679899599.jpg) ## Conclusion: Validate once, enforce with confidence—using DMARCReport Your DMARC record becomes invalid for a small set of predictable reasons: required tags missing or misplaced, syntax mistakes, DNS TXT handling quirks, multiple records at `_dmarc`, malformed or unauthorized report URIs, or transient DNS problems. The fix is a disciplined workflow: lint the record, **publish a single correct TXT**, verify rua/ruf authorization, ensure SPF/DKIM alignment, and then move policy from none to quarantine/reject with pct ramp-ups. [DMARCReport](https://dmarcreport.com/) is built to make each of these steps safe and fast. It prevents invalid publishes with a standards-aware linter, detects provider-specific TXT pitfalls, automates external reporting authorization, runs multi-resolver DNS checks (including DNSSEC), and turns aggregate data into clear alignment actions for every sender. With DMARCReport guiding your rollout—plus ongoing monitoring and alerting—you can move to full [DMARC enforcement](https://dmarcreport.com/blog/dmarc-enforcement-timeline-none-to-reject-roadmap/) confidently, without ever seeing “invalid DMARC” again. ![Brad Slavin](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/images/team/brad-slavin.jpg) [ Brad Slavin ](/authors/brad-slavin/) General Manager Founder and General Manager of DuoCircle. Product strategy and commercial lead for DMARC Report's 2,000+ customer base. [LinkedIn Profile →](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradslavin) ## Take control of your DMARC reports Turn raw XML into actionable dashboards. Start free - no credit card required. [Start Free Trial](https://app.dmarcreport.com/signup?plan=free) [Check Your DMARC Record](/tools/dmarc-checker/) ## Related Articles [ Foundational 8m 10 Critical Learnings From Verizon’s 2021 DBIR - A DMARCReport Perspective Nov 25, 2025 ](/blog/10-critical-learnings-from-verizons-2021-dbir-a-dmarcreport-perspective/)[ Foundational 12m 10 DNS Blacklist Insights That Improve Email Security And Deliverability Fast Nov 14, 2025 ](/blog/10-dns-blacklist-insights-to-improve-email-security-and-deliverability/)[ Foundational 12m 10 Email Spoofing Detection Tools That Dramatically Improve Brand Protection Nov 11, 2025 ](/blog/10-email-spoofing-detection-tools-that-dramatically-improve-brand-protection/)[ Foundational 12m 10 Reasons SPF Filtering Is Critical For Email Security Nov 19, 2025 ](/blog/10-reasons-spf-filtering-is-critical-for-email-security/) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138898167","name":"DMARC Report","url":"https://dmarcreport.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dmarcreport.com/images/dmarcreport-logo.png"},"description":"DMARC reporting and email authentication management. 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Common Syntax Errors Explained","description":"Learn why your DMARC record is invalid, discover common syntax errors, and fix misconfigurations to improve email authentication and prevent spoofing.","url":"https://dmarcreport.com/blog/why-is-my-dmarc-record-invalid-common-syntax-errors-explained/","datePublished":"2026-07-10T00:00:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-07-10T00:00:00.000Z","dateCreated":"2026-07-10T00:00:00.000Z","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://dmarcreport.com/authors/brad-slavin/#person","name":"Brad Slavin","url":"https://dmarcreport.com/authors/brad-slavin/","jobTitle":"General Manager","description":"Brad Slavin is the founder and General Manager of DuoCircle, the company behind DMARC Report, AutoSPF, Phish Protection, and Mailhop. He founded DuoCircle in 2014 and has led the company's growth to 2,000+ customers across its email security product family. Brad's focus is product strategy, customer relationships, and the commercial and compliance side of email authentication (DPAs, SLAs, enterprise procurement).","image":"https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/images/team/brad-slavin.jpg","knowsAbout":["Email Security Strategy","SaaS Product Management","Enterprise Compliance","Customer Success","Email Deliverability Business"],"worksFor":{"@type":"Organization","name":"DMARC Report","url":"https://dmarcreport.com"},"sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradslavin"]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138898167","name":"DMARC Report","url":"https://dmarcreport.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dmarcreport.com/images/dmarcreport-logo.png"},"description":"DMARC reporting and email authentication management. Monitor aggregate and forensic DMARC reports, analyze authentication results, and enforce DMARC policies across all your domains.","parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","name":"DuoCircle LLC","url":"https://www.duocircle.com","sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/duocircle-llc","https://www.linkedin.com/company/duocircle","https://github.com/duocircle"],"subOrganization":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138898167","name":"DMARC Report","url":"https://dmarcreport.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897912","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://www.phishprotection.com"}]},"sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138898167","https://www.linkedin.com/company/duocircle","https://x.com/duocirclellc","https://www.g2.com/products/dmarc-report/reviews","https://github.com/duocircle","https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/duocircle-llc","https://www.trustradius.com/products/duocircle/reviews"],"aggregateRating":{"@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":"4.8","reviewCount":"471","bestRating":"5","worstRating":"1","url":"https://www.g2.com/products/dmarc-report/reviews"},"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","url":"https://dmarcreport.com/support/"},"knowsAbout":["DMARC","DMARC Reporting","DMARC Aggregate Reports","DMARC Forensic Reports","Sender Policy Framework","DKIM","Email Authentication","Email Security","DNS Management","Email Deliverability"]},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://dmarcreport.com/blog/why-is-my-dmarc-record-invalid-common-syntax-errors-explained/"},"articleSection":"foundational","keywords":"","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/dmarc-check-8529-1783679612690.jpg","caption":"DMARC Record Invalid"},"speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":[".answer-block","h1"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What’s the minimum valid DMARC record I can publish?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A minimal, valid record is: `v=DMARC1; p=none;`. For usefulness, add rua for visibility: `v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@reports.example.com`;"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Does v have to be first?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. v=DMARC1 must be the first tag. Some receivers will reject or ignore the entire record if v is not first."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I use spaces or line breaks?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Spaces are allowed between tags, but avoid leading/trailing spaces and never insert spaces within URIs. Line breaks are fine in DNS so long as the TXT is properly quoted and not introducing extra characters."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is ruf required or recommended?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Not required; often discouraged due to privacy and low support. It doesn’t invalidate your record to include it, but expect limited data. Aggregate rua is the **primary signal to manage**."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I point rua to a Gmail address?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes if it’s mailto:, but for high volume it’s better to use a dedicated mailbox or a reporting service. If it’s an external domain, be sure the external provider publishes the required authorization TXT."}}]}] ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://dmarcreport.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https://dmarcreport.com/blog/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Foundational","item":"https://dmarcreport.com/foundational/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Why Is My DMARC Record Invalid? Common Syntax Errors Explained","item":"https://dmarcreport.com/blog/why-is-my-dmarc-record-invalid-common-syntax-errors-explained/"}]} ```