Fix BR-31: Document level allowance amount (BT-92) missing

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What does BR-31 mean?

Every document level allowance must state its amount. Otherwise the sum of the allowances cannot be built.

Common causes of BR-31

The allowance has a reason and a tax rate, but no ram:ActualAmount.
The amount was written as a negative value into another field instead of ActualAmount.
The export created the allowance block but left the amount empty.

How to fix BR-31

Find the faulty spot in the XML. Open the XML of the invoice and go to field BT-92 along this XPath://ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement/ram:SpecifiedTradeAllowanceCharge/ram:ActualAmount
Apply the fix. Every document level allowance (BG-20) needs a document level allowance amount (BT-92). Add the element ram:ActualAmount with the amount excluding VAT to the allowance (ram:SpecifiedTradeAllowanceCharge with ChargeIndicator false), for example 10.00.
Validate again. Save the file and validate it again to check that BR-31 is no longer reported.

Concrete fix

Every document level allowance (BG-20) needs a document level allowance amount (BT-92). Add the element ram:ActualAmount with the amount excluding VAT to the allowance (ram:SpecifiedTradeAllowanceCharge with ChargeIndicator false), for example 10.00.

XPath//ram:ApplicableHeaderTradeSettlement/ram:SpecifiedTradeAllowanceCharge/ram:ActualAmount

Before / after: the XML example

This is the spot in question before and after the fix (Cross Industry Invoice, ZUGFeRD/Factur-X).

Wrong

<ram:SpecifiedTradeAllowanceCharge>
  <ram:ChargeIndicator><udt:Indicator>false</udt:Indicator></ram:ChargeIndicator>
  <ram:Reason>Treuerabatt</ram:Reason>
</ram:SpecifiedTradeAllowanceCharge>

Correct

<ram:SpecifiedTradeAllowanceCharge>
  <ram:ChargeIndicator><udt:Indicator>false</udt:Indicator></ram:ChargeIndicator>
  <ram:ActualAmount>10.00</ram:ActualAmount>
  <ram:Reason>Treuerabatt</ram:Reason>
</ram:SpecifiedTradeAllowanceCharge>

Frequent questions about BR-31

How does the XML tell an allowance from a charge?

Through ram:ChargeIndicator/udt:Indicator. The value false means an allowance (BG-20), true means a charge (BG-21). The amount itself is positive in both cases.

Must the allowance amount be positive?

Yes. The amount (BT-92) is always given as a positive value. That it is a deduction is shown by the ChargeIndicator false alone.

Related error codes

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