In classic invoices, you often encounter them: discount cash or prompt payment discounts. But what if you switch to e-invoicing or invoice through the Peppol network? Does that discount remain? Is it supported in the digital format? And how do you pass them correctly in a machine-readable invoice?
What can you read on this page?
What is discount cash?
A cash discount is a discount your customer receives if they pay faster than the normal payment deadline. For example:
Invoice amount: €1,000
Discount cash: 2% if paid within 10 days
Normal payment term: 30 days
If the customer pays within 10 days, he only has to pay €980. If he only pays after 10 days, the full amount of €1,000 applies.
Is discount cash supported in e-invoicing?
Yes. Both UBL (the invoice format on which e-invoicing and Peppol are based) and the Peppol network support discount cash, provided the fields are used correctly.
Most modern e-invoicing tools, such as those offered by Nymus, offer the ability to automatically add this discount to the XML. The discount is then included in structured fields so that it is recognizable by both software and humans.
Not every Access Point supports discount cash
We hear it frequently: companies billing through a Peppol Access Point are told that discount cash is not possible within Peppol. That’s incorrect.
- The Peppol standard fully supports discount cash.
- Some Access Points do not implement this functionality correctly or omit the fields.
The risk? Your customer gets an invoice with no clear discount or terms, causing confusion or late payment.
How is discount cash technically passed on?
In a UBL invoice, discount cash is included via specific fields such as:
- PaymentTerms: a description of the discount (e.g. “2% discount for payment within 10 days”)
- PaymentDueDate: the final payment date for the rebate
- SettlementDiscountPercent: the discount percentage.
- SettlementPeriod: the period during which the discount applies
That way the recipient knows exactly what the conditions are and what amount applies in which scenario.
Why is this important for finance?
Proper discount cash provides benefits for:
- Better cash flow: Encourage quick payments
- Correct processing: Accounting software automatically recognizes the rebate
- Legal clarity: The discount is formally established in the invoice
What about Peppol?
Do you invoice through Peppol? Make sure your service provider or software vendor correctly includes discount cash in the UBL. Not everyone does this by default.
Be aware that some tools send only the final amount along with no mention of discounts or conditions. This can lead to errors.
At Nymus, we include discount cash explicitly in your Peppol invoice, including total amount excluding VAT and payment reminder if necessary.
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Want to know more?
Passing discount cash correctly in your e-invoicing flow is perfectly possible, as long as your software understands the rules of the game. Want to know if your invoices are set up correctly? Whether your Access Point includes the right fields?
We like to look at it together. No sales talk, just insight into what’s technically possible and how to get you paid faster.
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