BR-DE-18 Skonto (cash discount) in the wrong format

XRechnung requires the early-payment discount (Skonto) in a fixed syntax in the payment terms, so software can deduct it automatically. A line such as “2% discount within 14 days” that starts with # or contains SKONTO does not match the pattern exactly.

The message in the validation report

[BR-DE-18] Skonto Zeilen in … müssen diesem regulärem Ausdruck entsprechen … Anzugeben ist im ersten Segment "SKONTO", im zweiten "TAGE=n", im dritten "PROZENT=n". Prozentzahlen sind ohne Vorzeichen sowie mit Punkt getrennt von zwei Nachkommastellen anzugeben.

Common causes

• Comma instead of dot: PROZENT=2,00 instead of PROZENT=2.00.
• One or no decimal places: PROZENT=2.
• Lower case, spaces, or missing # at the end.
• No line break after the final #.

How to fix it

1. Write exactly: #SKONTO#TAGE=14#PROZENT=2.00#, followed by a line break.
2. If the discount applies to part of the amount: #SKONTO#TAGE=14#PROZENT=2.00#BASISBETRAG=1000.00#.
3. Two discount levels = two lines, each ending with a line break. Put normal text (e.g. “payable within 30 days”) on its own line without #.

What it should look like (XRechnung, CII syntax)

<ram:SpecifiedTradePaymentTerms>
  <ram:Description>#SKONTO#TAGE=14#PROZENT=2.00#
</ram:Description>
</ram:SpecifiedTradePaymentTerms>

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More error codes

• BR-DE-15Leitweg-ID / buyer reference missing
• BR-DE-1Payment instructions missing
• BR-DE-2Seller contact missing (also BR-DE-5, -6, -7)
• BR-DE-21Not an XRechnung (wrong specification identifier)
• BR-DE-23-aCredit transfer without IBAN
• BR-CO-10Sum of line amounts does not match
• BR-CO-15Gross total is not net plus VAT
• BR-S-08VAT breakdown per rate does not match
• BR-CL-23Invalid unit code (e.g. “Stk”)

Guides to German e-invoicing

• Open an XRechnung and save it as PDF
• ZUGFeRD or XRechnung: which one do I need?
• E-invoices for small businesses under § 19 UStG
• Sending an XRechnung to a German authority

Rule text from the official KoSIT validation rules (XRechnung 3.0.2, EN 16931). General technical explanation, not tax or legal advice.