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Avalara Help Center

Fix CertCapture API errors

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This article applies to:CertCapture

CertCapture sends exemption certificate data to AvaTax via an API call. If there are issues with the customer or certificate data that prevent the API call from being sent, the CertCapture document History tab displays the error messages. Here are some common errors messages you may see, and the ways to resolve those errors.

Before you begin

To see a full list of unresolved API errors on all certificates, generate a Failed API Calls report. 

CertCapture API error messages

This table lists the error messages you might see on a certificate History, as well as what they mean and what might have caused them.

Error message What it means How to fix it
Reason Code X is not exempt in region(s): XX. (Invalid ExemptReasonId and region combination) The exemption reason is not valid for these regions. For multi-jurisdictional certificates, the exemption reason must be valid for all regions.
  • To change the exemption reason, go to the certificate Details tab and then select Edit to enter a new exemption reason. See the exempt reason matrix for the U.S. and Canada to see the reasons that are valid for each region.
  • If a different exemption reason doesn't work, consider revalidating the certificate excluding the regions listed here.
Certificate exempt reason does not exist in AvaTaxCalcApi. The exemption reason isn't available in AvaTax. To change the exemption reason, go to the certificate Details tab and then select Edit to enter a new exemption reason. See the exempt reason matrix for the U.S. and Canada for a full list of exemption reasons.
DocumentRefNo is required. (This value must be specified.) The exemption certificate is a single-use certificate, but does not have a certificate PO number. Go to the certificate Details tab and select Add PO Number.
CustomerName is required. (This value must be specified.) The Customer Name field is empty for at least one of the customers linked to the certificate.
  1. Go to the certificate Customers tab to find the linked customer missing a name.
  2. Select the customer number.
  3. On the customer Details tab, select Edit to enter the customer name.
The certificate customer(customer number) does not contain an address. The Address Line 1 field is empty for the customers listed here.  Go to the Details tab for each customer and then select Edit to enter the street address.
Address1 length must be between 1 and 50 characters. The Address Line 1 field is too long for at least one of the customers linked to the certificate.
  1. Go to the certificate Customers tab to find the linked customer with a street address longer than 50 characters.
  2. Go to the customer Details tab and then select Edit to adjust the street address.
The Address Line 2 field is too long for at least one of the customers linked to the certificate. The Address Line 2 field is too long for at least one of the customers linked to the certificate.
  1. Go to the certificate Customers tab to find the linked customer with a street address longer than 50 characters.
  2. Go to the customer Details tab and then select Edit to adjust the Address Line 2 field.
The certificate customer(customer number) does not contain a city. The City field is empty for the customers listed here.  Go to the Details tab for each customer and then select Edit to enter the city name.
Region is required. (This value must be specified.) The Region field is empty for a customer linked to the certificate.
  1. Go to the certificate Customers tab to find customer addresses missing a state or province.
  2. Select the customer number.
  3. On the customer Details tab, select Edit, and then select the state or province name.
The certificate customer(customer number) does not contain a zip. The ZIP field is empty for the customer numbers listed here.  Go to the Details tab for each customer and then select Edit to enter the ZIP code.
The certificate customer(customer number) is not associated to a country. The Country field is empty for the customer numbers listed here.  Go to the Details tab for each customer and then select Edit to enter the country name.
Certificate record could not be found or did not meet send credentials. Typically, this means the certificate's effective date is in the future. 
  • Go to the certificate Details tab and then select Edit to change the effective date.
  • If the certificate is intentionally future-dated, you don't need to do anything. CertCapture will send a new API call on the selected effective date. 
  • If the certificate is not future-dated, open a support case to get help resolving the error.
Error saving the Certificate, InvalidEndDate. (Error saving the certificate. This certificate has been applied to a transaction dated x/xx/20xx. The End Date cannot be set prior to that date.) The certificate has already been applied to a transaction in AvaTax. For auditing purposes, the certificate expiration date cannot be changed to a date earlier than the transaction date.

If you need to completely invalidate the certificate:

  1. Go to the certificate Details tab and then select Edit to change the expiration date to a date later than the date in the error message.
  2. Go to the certificate Validation tab, select Edit Certificate Validation, and then select No to invalidate the certificate.
ExemptCertDetail.IdNo is required. The certificate Tax ID field is empty. A Tax ID is required for exemption certificates in SST states. Go to the certificate Details tab and then select Edit to enter a tax ID.