BR-FR-CO-05_BT-3: A credit note must refer to the invoice it credits

What it means

The invoice type code (BT-3) is 261, 381, 396, 502 or 503, a credit note. The credit note must name the earlier invoice (BT-25) with its date (BT-26) in one of two ways: at least once at document level, or on every line (BG-25) as a line-level earlier invoice reference (EXT-FR-FE-136) with its date (EXT-FR-FE-138). If neither is true, the rule fails. The message lists how many references it found. In the CII rule set the line-level route only applies to lines with no subtype or with the subtype DETAIL, so GROUP lines are left out of that count.

Why it matters

A credit note reduces or cancels an invoice that was already sent. Without a link to that invoice, the recipient cannot post the credit note against it, and the platform rejects the file.

How to fix it

The simpler fix is one reference at the top of the credit note: enter the number and issue date of the invoice you are crediting in the preceding invoice section (BG-3, BT-25 and BT-26). If the credit note covers several invoices, add one reference for each, since the rule only asks for at least one. The other way is to give every line its own reference to the earlier invoice with its date.

The rule as published

Si le type de facture (BT-3) est un avoir (261, 381, 396, 502, 503), alors : - soit au moins une référence à une facture antérieure (BT-25) avec sa date (BT-26) doit être présente au niveau entête, - soit chaque ligne (BG-25) doit contenir une référence à une facture antérieure (EXT-FR-FE-136) avec sa date (EXT-FR-FE-138). Références entête trouvées : … . Nbline : … LineREF : … N° Facture : …

Where France CTC (CII) run it, the rule reads:

Si le type de facture (BT-3) est un avoir (261, 381, 396, 502, 503), alors : - soit au moins une référence à une facture antérieure (BT-25) avec sa date (BT-26) doit être présente au niveau entête, - soit chaque ligne (BG-25) sans subtype (EXT-FR-FE-163) ou avec subtype 'DETAIL' doit contenir une référence à une facture antérieure (EXT-FR-FE-136) avec sa date (EXT-FR-FE-138). Références entête trouvées : … .

Business terms: BG-25, BT-3, BT-25, BT-26

Where this rule applies