Why does EN 16931 only allow VAT and not the full UN/EDIFACT 5153 list?

EN 16931 is the European VAT invoicing standard. Supporting other tax types would require different semantic fields and code lists, so the standard restricts itself to VAT.

Is this error safe to auto-fix?

Yes when the underlying tax is a VAT. Invoice Navigator substitutes the TypeCode string automatically. When the underlying tax is not a VAT, the invoice is out of EN 16931 scope and the fix is blocked.

Does this apply to both ram:CategoryTradeTax and ram:ApplicableTradeTax?

Yes. CII-DT-037 fires on any ram:TypeCode descendant of either block.

What about VAT exemption scenarios?

Exemption uses TypeCode=VAT combined with ram:CategoryCode=E and an ExemptionReason. The TypeCode stays VAT even when no VAT amount is charged.

Which validators enforce this rule?

Every EN 16931 CII validator: KoSIT XRechnung, the EN 16931 reference Schematron, Peppol Access Points that run the EN 16931 layer, and Factur-X and ZUGFeRD 2.x from BASIC upwards.

Error codes · cii-d16b

CII-DT-037Fixable here

Tax category TypeCode must be 'VAT'

This is the rejection, word for word: „[CII-DT-037] CII-DT-037 is a fatal EN 16931 datatype assertion on the CII binding. It restricts ram:TypeCode inside ram:ApplicableTradeTax and ram:CategoryTradeTax to the literal value 'VAT'. EN 16931 is a VAT-centric standard and rejects every other UN/EDIFACT 5153 tax type.“

What to have readyThe missing value from your purchase order, contract or bookkeeping.

What we doSet every ram:TypeCode under a CII tax block to the literal VAT; route non-VAT taxes through a different invoice channel.

Choose the rejected invoiceor drop it here

XRechnung XML or ZUGFeRD PDF. Checking is free · corrected file €1.90 · the first every 30 days is free · no sign-up.

If you enter it yourself in your invoicing software

Before

<ram:ApplicableTradeTax><ram:CalculatedAmount>19.00</ram:CalculatedAmount><ram:TypeCode>GST</ram:TypeCode><ram:BasisAmount>100.00</ram:BasisAmount><ram:CategoryCode>S</ram:CategoryCode><ram:RateApplicablePercent>19.00</ram:RateApplicablePercent></ram:ApplicableTradeTax>

After

<ram:ApplicableTradeTax><ram:CalculatedAmount>19.00</ram:CalculatedAmount><ram:TypeCode>VAT</ram:TypeCode><ram:BasisAmount>100.00</ram:BasisAmount><ram:CategoryCode>S</ram:CategoryCode><ram:RateApplicablePercent>19.00</ram:RateApplicablePercent></ram:ApplicableTradeTax>

What the finding looks likeExample

FindingValue missing · CII-DT-037

From youThe missing value

ThenPassed

ProofSHA-256 and /verify link after the check