CII-SR-394: Leave the exchange rate out of invoice discounts and charges

What it means

A discount (BG-20) or charge (BG-21) on the whole invoice contains an ActualTradeCurrencyExchange element, which holds a currency exchange rate. EN 16931 has no exchange rate on a single discount or charge: these amounts are given in the invoice currency (BT-5).

Why it matters

This is a warning, so the invoice is still accepted. The buyer's software does not read the exchange rate, so any conversion it describes is ignored. It is worth fixing if the amount on the discount or charge is not in the invoice currency, because then the totals may not add up for the buyer.

How to fix it

Remove the ActualTradeCurrencyExchange element and state the discount or charge in the invoice currency. If the VAT also has to be reported in another currency, EN 16931 does that once for the whole invoice, with the VAT accounting currency (BT-6) and the total VAT amount in that currency (BT-111).

The rule as published

ActualTradeCurrencyExchange should not be present

Where this rule applies