What it means
When the seller and the buyer are both in Germany, every line of the payment terms (BT-20) that starts with # must be a cash discount statement in a fixed format: #SKONTO#TAGE=14#PROZENT=2.00#. The parts are SKONTO, the number of days (TAGE=) and the percentage (PROZENT=), written with a dot and two decimals. If the discount applies only to part of the amount due (BT-115), add a fourth part with that base amount, like #SKONTO#TAGE=14#PROZENT=2.00#BASISBETRAG=500.00#. Everything is in capitals, with a # between the parts and at the end, no extra spaces or tabs, and a line break after each statement. Lines that do not start with # are not checked by this rule.
Why it matters
The buyer's accounting software reads these lines to work out the early-payment discount and the reduced amount to pay. A line it cannot read could be ignored or misapplied, so the invoice is rejected rather than risk a wrong payment.
How to fix it
Open the payment terms or cash discount setting in your invoicing software. Many German programs have fields for the discount days and percentage and write this line for you, so use those rather than typing it by hand. If you type it yourself, copy the format exactly: capitals, a # between every part and at the end, a dot in the percentage with two decimals, no spaces, and a line break after it. If you only want plain wording in the payment terms, do not start that line with #.
The rule as published
Read the rule on the publisher's site
Business terms: BT-20, BT-115
Where this rule applies
| Rule set | Version |
|---|---|
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (invoice) | 2026.5 |
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (credit note) | 2026.5 |
Check your file
Drop your e-invoice to see whether DE-R-018 still fails, and which other rules do.
Related rules
- BR-CO-25 A positive amount due needs a due date or payment terms
- BR-DE-18 Early payment discount terms must follow the XRechnung format
- BR-15 Amount due is required
- BR-CO-16 Amount due must equal total with VAT minus paid plus rounding
- BR-DEC-18 Amount due for payment: at most two decimals
- BR-DEC-RO-18 Amount due for payment: two decimals at most