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Every ANAF e-Factura rejection, explained: a rejection can happen before your XML is accepted for processing, or later when the invoice fails validation. The first clue is whether ANAF returned an upload index. If it did, use that index to check the processing status and retrieve the response in SPV; if it did not, check for an XML syntax error. The exact response—not the generic word “rejected”—tells you what to investigate.

What an RO e-Factura rejection means

RO e-Factura is based on a structured invoice XML, not a PDF attachment. ANAF’s 2023 user guide says, “Factura electronică trebuie prezentată ca fișier XML structurat simplu” (“The electronic invoice must be presented as a simple structured XML file”) and states that a PDF is not an electronic invoice under these requirements. The guide refers to the European standard EN 16931 and Romania’s RO-CIUS specifications. Read ANAF’s RO e-Factura guide.

“Rejected” can describe two different points in the workflow. A syntax-invalid XML may be refused before it enters the system and before an upload index is issued. If the initial syntax check passes, ANAF returns an upload index and processes the file; a later response may still report validation errors. An index therefore confirms submission for processing, not that the invoice has been validated.

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What happened What to check What it tells you
No upload index; the portal reports invalid XML syntax The XML file’s structure and syntax The file may not have entered processing. ANAF’s 2024 Iași material describes this pre-intake failure. See the 2024 material.
An upload index was returned Check that index for processing status, then retrieve the response in SPV The file was accepted for processing, but it may still receive a rejected response with validation errors.
The response says validated Confirm the response corresponds to the submitted invoice ANAF’s guide describes a validated response as containing the invoice and the system signature.

Where to find the e-Factura error message

Use the upload index to locate the processing result. For the full response, ANAF’s guide directs users to the invoice-response area in SPV. Select the relevant tax identifier and date range, request the responses, and download the response associated with the invoice. A rejected response contains validation errors and the system signature; a validated response contains the invoice and system signature.

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  1. Sign in to SPV and open the invoice-response area.
  2. Select the relevant tax identifier and date range, then obtain the available responses.
  3. Match the response to the invoice using its submission details and upload index.
  4. Download and preserve the response file, then read the returned error text and context.

Do not infer a specific problem from the status alone. Use the returned details to identify the affected field or rule where the response specifies one.

How to troubleshoot a rejected invoice

1. Establish which stage failed

If there is no upload index and the portal reports a syntax problem, start with the XML file itself. If ANAF issued an index, check its status and retrieve the final response in SPV. These outcomes point to different stages and should not be treated as interchangeable.

2. Correct the issue identified in the response

Read the exact error and use its context to locate the relevant XML element, invoice data, or validation rule. ANAF’s guide groups validation checks across XML syntax, operational rules, integrity constraints, and VAT-category conditions. These categories help narrow the investigation, but they do not identify a particular fix without the actual returned error.

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3. Check the current requirements, not just the visible form

Compare the corrected invoice with the current technical materials and the applicable EN 16931 and RO-CIUS requirements. ANAF’s live invoice-completion application identifies itself as XML-UBL version 1.0.8 and displays required fields including invoice number (BT-1), issue date (BT-2), and currency code (BT-5). That is the version shown by the form, not proof that every production validation rule has the same version. The form is not a substitute for the complete technical specifications.

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ANAF’s e-Factura information and guide index lists user resources, including guidance on invoice-type codes and VAT categories. Consult the current materials relevant to the error rather than assuming a generic code-to-fix mapping.

4. Resubmit and verify the result

Correct the XML or invoice data, submit it through the appropriate route, and keep the new upload index. Check that index for the processing status and retrieve the response in SPV. The corrected invoice is not confirmed as validated merely because the resubmission was accepted for processing.

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Choose a submission route that fits your workflow

ANAF’s guide describes two routes: a web-service integration using your application, or the Ministry of Finance’s free upload application. The practical choice is about workflow, not a demonstrated difference in rejection rates.

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Route Best fit What to keep track of
Web-service integration Businesses that need submission through their own connected application Submission records, upload index, and the final response
Ministry of Finance upload application Users submitting through the free government application Upload index and the final response in SPV

Can you look up every rejection code?

The official materials cited here explain the workflow and broad validation areas, but they do not establish a current public catalogue mapping every rejection response to a specific correction. Do not treat an unofficial list—or a guessed interpretation of a code—as authoritative. Start with the full SPV response, then check ANAF’s current technical documentation and guides for the rule it identifies.

How long are responses available?

ANAF’s 2023 guide says invoice XML files and error messages can be downloaded for 60 days after publication; afterward, they are archived electronically and can be released on request. Because this retention detail comes from a 2023 guide, check ANAF’s current instructions before relying on it. Save the XML and response file when you retrieve them.

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