When using the DATEV Rechnungswesen native integration, you may occasionally encounter error messages during the export process. These messages are designed to help you quickly identify and resolve issues with your accounting setup and prepared payables.
Common reasons for export failures include:
Connection errors — the Chift Local Agent is not running on the DATEV server, or the Windows credentials have changed.
Accounting settings errors — a supplier account, tax code or cost dimension is missing or incorrectly mapped in Spendesk.
Failed export errors — an individual payable has a data issue that prevents it from being pushed to DATEV Rechnungswesen.
Common situations and what to do
What you see | Why | What to do |
"Missing KOST1" (or KOST2) on a payable, although a cost centre is selected | The selected value isn't linked to a DATEV cost centre. This happens when two DATEV cost centres have the same short name (Kurzbezeichnung), or when a cost centre has no short name. | In DATEV, give each cost centre a unique short name. In Spendesk, refresh the accounting settings, then select the value again on the payable. |
A cost centre value is blank in the list | The DATEV cost centre has no short name. | Same as above. |
**"n settlements failed to export"** banner after a successful export | Some payments were refused by DATEV, most often because they are dated before the first fiscal year (Wirtschaftsjahr) set up in the DATEV client. | Create the missing fiscal year in DATEV, then click Review on the banner and export the payments again. |
A KOST system is missing in Mapping & sync | DATEV returns it as inactive for this client. | Contact our support team with your DATEV client number. |
All expense accounts are switched off | Expected after the first connection: DATEV doesn't tell which accounts are expense accounts. | Switch on the accounts you book to in Settings > Chart of accounts > Expense accounts. |
"No employee mapped" on an expense claim | No DATEV creditor matches the member: no creditor (not a company) with the member's email, and no unique creditor with the member's exact name. | Create a DATEV creditor for the employee, with their email, then refresh the accounting settings. |
The Export tab shows "Your payables are being exported" for more than an hour | The export didn't finish. No new export can be started until it does. | Contact our support team; don't try to export the same payables by another way. |
How to resolve other export errors
For a comprehensive guide on setting up and troubleshooting your accounting integration, please refer to our detailed article on Main error messages and solutions with native integrations.
Most export issues can be resolved by reviewing and updating your accounting settings. Each error message provides specific guidance on what needs to be corrected.
The integration shows "Server not responding"
Spendesk cannot reach the local agent on your DATEV server (not for SmartIT).
On the DATEV server, open Services and find LocalAPIService. If it is stopped, right-click it and choose Start.
In Spendesk, go to Settings > Accounting Setup and click Request server update.
Retry the failed exports.
Do not click Disconnect from DATEV to fix this. If you disconnect, Spendesk asks "Want to reuse this connection in the future?": choose Keep the local agent. Delete the local agent connection means you must reinstall the agent on the DATEV server.
The Windows user changed, or the person who set it up left
The local agent signs in to DATEV with the Windows user entered during the connection. If that user is disabled, its password changes or it loses its DATEV rights, the connection stops. Run the connection flow again with a valid Windows user linked to DATEV (Connect Spendesk to DATEV Rechnungswesen), uninstall the old agent, and install the new one (Install the Chift Local Agent on your DATEV server).
What to do if you are still blocked
If you encounter persistent errors or need additional assistance with the DATEV Rechnungswesen integration, contact our support team.