Troubleshooting & glossary

Most e-invoicing problems are small and quick to fix. Work through the symptom that matches what you’re seeing. If you’re still stuck, support is always available.

”Test NRS MBS Connection” fails

Almost always a typo in your credentials. Re-check, in this order:

1. API Key and API Secret — copy them again from the portal; watch for trailing spaces.
2. Base URL — it must be the URL from the portal, pasted exactly, with no extra characters.
3. Environment — make sure it matches the credentials you pasted (Sandbox creds with Sandbox selected, Production with Production).

An invoice won’t submit and shows an HS Code error

The item is a service but has a goods (HS) code, or vice-versa — or it has both. Open the item → NRS Classification, and make sure goods have only an HS Code and services have only a Service Code. See Prepare your data.

On Submit, Zinye lists missing fields

This is Zinye catching a problem before NRS does. It shows one clear list, for example:

This invoice cannot be sent to NRS — please complete the following:

• Company Phone — must start with + and country code (e.g. +234…)
• Item TEST-PRODUCT-01: HS Code must be in 0000.00 format

Fix the listed items and submit again. The full requirements are on Prepare your data.

Status is stuck on Pending or keeps showing Auto-Retry

NRS is briefly busy and returned a “try again later” response. Zinye retries automatically — usually it clears within minutes. If a single invoice stays this way for a long time, its reference may already be registered (see next).

An invoice Fails with a “duplicate” or “try again later” message

Each invoice gets a fixed reference (IRN) built from its number and date. If the same invoice is sent repeatedly, NRS can reject the repeat as a duplicate. For a brand-new invoice this never happens. If a specific invoice is stuck, raise a new invoice to test, and contact support to clear the stuck one.

NRS rejected something specific

Open the NRS E-Invoice record (invoice → Nigeria → View e-Invoice). The NRS message names the exact field — e.g. “supplier TIN does not match the record on the Business ID,” or a missing supplier email or telephone. Fix it, then use Nigeria → Submit to NRS to retry.

An invoice shows “Not Required” and was never sent

Normal when B2B Only is on and the customer has no TIN. If this customer is a registered business, add their TIN on the Customer record and re-raise the invoice. (Individual / POS sales belong on ATRS instead.)

The QR code doesn’t appear on the printout

1. Make sure you’re printing with the Nigeria Sales Invoice format (choose it in the Print view’s format selector).
2. Confirm the invoice actually reached Submitted — a QR only exists once NRS has signed it.
3. Confirm your Public Key and Certificate were pasted into settings correctly. Re-download crypto_keys.txt and paste the public_key again if in doubt.

MBS360 can’t read the QR

It’s printed too small. The Nigeria Sales Invoice format prints it large enough; if you built a custom format, keep the QR at least ~4 cm wide.

The Nigeria fields don’t appear on Company / Customer / Item

The app may need to finish its setup on your system. Contact support to run the standard update — it’s a one-time, behind-the-scenes step.

Plain-English glossary

• NRS — Nigeria Revenue Service, the tax authority (formerly FIRS).
• NRS MBS — the NRS “Merchant Buyer Solution,” the system that receives and signs your e-invoices.
• E-invoicing — sending each invoice to NRS electronically for official approval.
• IRN (Invoice Reference Number) — the unique government reference NRS gives each approved invoice.
• QR code — the scannable square on the printout that lets anyone verify the invoice is genuine.
• CSID — a cryptographic stamp NRS adds to prove the invoice is authentic.
• TIN — Tax Identification Number; identifies your business and your business customers.
• HS Code — the official classification code for goods (physical products).
• Service Code — the official classification code for services.
• B2B / B2C — business-to-business (customer has a TIN) vs. business-to-consumer (an individual).
• Sandbox / Production — the practice environment vs. the real, live environment.
• MBS360 — the NRS phone app used to scan an invoice’s QR code and confirm it’s genuine.

Getting help

If you get stuck — especially obtaining your NRS credentials or going live — you don’t have to solve it alone:

• Email support@zinye.com with a screenshot of any error message. Never share your API Secret or Cryptographic Keys in a screenshot — blank them out first.
• Your tax consultant or Zinye onboarding specialist can complete the NRS portal enrolment and the setup on your behalf.

See also Getting help.