How To Fix WS771 - Deviating Tax must be active for settlement party customer

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WS - Supplier Billing Document

• Message number: 771

• Message text: Deviating Tax must be active for settlement party customer

Self-Explanatory Message

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• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message WS771 - Deviating Tax must be active for settlement party customer ?

  Certainly! Here's a detailed explanation regarding the SAP error message WS771: "Deviating Tax must be active for settlement party customer":
  
  Error Message: WS771 - Deviating Tax must be active for settlement party customer
  
  Cause:
  This error occurs when you are trying to perform a settlement or billing process involving a settlement party customer (e.g., in Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable (FI-CA) or in Sales and Distribution (SD) billing) and the system expects that the "Deviating Tax" indicator is active for that customer, but it is not.
  
  Deviating Tax means that the tax determination for the settlement party customer differs from the main customer or the standard tax procedure.
  The system requires that the settlement party customer master data has the "Deviating Tax" flag set to allow tax calculation based on the settlement party's tax data.
  If this flag is not set, the system cannot correctly determine tax for the settlement party, hence the error.
  
  
  Where does this happen?
  
  In Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable (FI-CA) during settlement or billing.
  In Sales and Distribution (SD) when billing documents involve a settlement party.
  When tax determination logic requires deviating tax data for the settlement party customer.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Activate Deviating Tax for the Settlement Party Customer:
  
  Go to the customer master data for the settlement party customer.
  In the Sales Area Data or Company Code Data (depending on the module and configuration), find the Tax Data section.
  Look for the checkbox or indicator named "Deviating Tax" or similar (in FI-CA, this is often in the Contract Account master data).
  Activate this indicator to allow the system to use the settlement party's tax data for tax calculation.
  
  
  
  Check Tax Classification and Tax Codes:
  
  Ensure that the tax classification and tax codes are properly maintained for the settlement party customer.
  Verify that the tax procedure supports deviating tax for settlement parties.
  
  
  
  Review Configuration:
  
  In some cases, the error may be due to missing or incorrect configuration in tax determination or settlement rules.
  Check the customizing settings for tax determination in FI-CA or SD to ensure that deviating tax for settlement parties is supported and correctly set up.
  
  
  
  Reprocess the Transaction:
  
  After activating the deviating tax indicator and verifying master data, retry the settlement or billing process.
  
  
  
  
  Additional Information:
  
  Deviating Tax is used when the tax liability or tax calculation basis differs between the main customer and the settlement party.
  This is common in scenarios where the settlement party is a different legal entity or has a different tax jurisdiction.
  The error ensures tax compliance by enforcing correct tax data usage.
  If you do not want to use deviating tax, ensure that the settlement party customer is not assigned or that the tax determination logic does not require it.
  
  
  Summary:
  
  
  
  Aspect
  Details
  
  
  
  
  Error
  WS771 - Deviating Tax must be active for settlement party customer
  
  
  Cause
  The settlement party customer master data does not have the "Deviating Tax" indicator active, but the system requires it for tax calculation.
  
  
  Solution
  Activate the "Deviating Tax" indicator in the settlement party customer's master data and verify tax codes and configuration.
  
  
  Module
  FI-CA (Contract Accounts Receivable and Payable), SD (Sales and Distribution)
  
  
  Notes
  Ensures correct tax determination for settlement party differing from main customer.
  
  
  
  
  If you need guidance on how to activate the deviating tax indicator in a specific module or transaction, please let me know!