How To Fix EI261 - Country & not a member of the European Community!

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: EI - Foreign Trade: Gen. Output

• Message number: 261

• Message text: Country & not a member of the European Community!

What causes this issue?

The ID numbers for declarations to the authorities can only be
maintained for countries that belong to the European Union.
Therefore, entries cannot be made in these fields.

System Response

The system informs you of this.
&NOTE&
If you have plants in Switzerland for which a simplified export
declaration must be made (EXTRASTAT declaration for Switzerland), you
can record

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

the customer number VAR in field 'EXTRASTAT: company number' and
the material number VAR in field 'EXTRASTAT: material number'.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message EI261 - Country & not a member of the European Community! ?

  The SAP error message EI261 ("Country & not a member of the European Community!") typically occurs when you are trying to process a transaction that involves a country that is not recognized as a member of the European Community (EC) in the context of VAT (Value Added Tax) or other tax-related processes. This error is often encountered in scenarios involving sales, purchasing, or financial transactions where tax implications are relevant.
  Cause:
  
  Incorrect Country Code: The country code entered in the transaction may not be valid or recognized as an EC member.
  Master Data Issues: The master data for the customer or vendor may not be set up correctly, particularly the country field.
  Configuration Settings: The system configuration for tax settings may not include the country in question as a member of the EC.
  Transaction Type: The type of transaction being processed may not be applicable for non-EC countries, leading to this error.
  
  Solution:
  
  Verify Country Code: Check the country code entered in the transaction. Ensure it is correct and corresponds to a valid country.
  Check Master Data: Review the master data for the customer or vendor involved in the transaction. Ensure that the country is correctly specified and that the data is up to date.
  Review Tax Configuration: Go to the SAP configuration settings (transaction code SPRO) and check the tax settings. Ensure that the country is configured correctly in the VAT settings.
  Consult Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or help resources to understand the specific requirements for transactions involving EC countries.
  Contact Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to your SAP support team or consulting with an SAP expert for further assistance.
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address this specific error or provide additional guidance.
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as VK11 (Create Condition) or ME21N (Create Purchase Order) where this error might occur.
  Tax Jurisdiction: Understand the tax jurisdiction rules applicable to your organization, especially if you deal with cross-border transactions within the EU.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the EI261 error and implement the necessary solutions to resolve it.