CII-SR-398: Leave the start-event code out of the payment terms

What it means

The payment terms contain a FromEventCode element, a code for the event the payment period counts from, such as the invoice date or the delivery. EN 16931 does not use it. It gives the due date (BT-9) as a date and the payment terms (BT-20) as text.

Why it matters

This is a warning, so the invoice is still accepted. The buyer's software does not read the code, so it cannot work out a due date from it. If the invoice has no due date of its own, the buyer may not know when to pay, and then it is worth fixing.

How to fix it

Remove the FromEventCode element and fill in the due date (BT-9) with the actual date. If the terms depend on an event, say so in the payment terms text, for example payable 30 days after delivery. If the element keeps coming back, check the payment terms setting in your invoicing software.

The rule as published

FromEventCode should not be present

Where this rule applies