Receipt Rounding and Limitation of 1 and 2 Cent Coin Usage

Fri Jul 01 2022
• 5 min of reading

Amendment to Law No. 18/1996 Z.z. on Prices and its Impact on eKasa Solution

Dear business partners,

On 2.11.2021, an amendment to Law No. 18/1996 Z.z. on prices was approved. This amendment comes into effect on 1.7.2022. The amendment to the law also affects Law 289/2008 Z.z. on the use of electronic cash registers. There is limited time to implement the law’s requirements into the eKasa environment. In this document, we want to inform you about the steps that will need to be completed by 1.7.2022 for proper eKasa functionality.

Goal of the Law Amendment

The goal of the price law amendment is to introduce rounding of purchase values to significantly limit the circulation of 1 and 2 cent coins. One and two cent coins will continue to be legal tender. This adjustment will lead to:

  • Simplification of coin issuance in cash payment transactions
  • Reduction of business costs for bank fees for depositing or processing 1 and 2 cent coins
  • Positive effect on the environment by reducing the use of packaging materials and the number of transports of these coins

Rounding Rules

The final receipt price is rounded if paid in cash. If the receipt is paid with multiple payment methods, the part paid in cash is rounded. Cash is rounded to 5 cents according to the following rounding rules:

Basic Rule

  • If the total receipt price is up to 5 cents, it is rounded to 5 cents
    • Example: 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04 → 0.05

Mathematical Rounding (price over 5 cents)

The price paid in cash is mathematically rounded to 5 cents:

  • 1 and 2 cents down to 0 cents

    • Example: 0.11 → 0.10, 0.22 → 0.20, 0.42 → 0.40

  • 3 and 4 cents up to 5 cents

    • Example: 0.33 → 0.35, 0.34 → 0.35, 0.93 → 0.95

  • 6 and 7 cents down to 5 cents

    • Example: 0.36 → 0.35, 0.37 → 0.35, 0.96 → 0.95

  • 8 and 9 cents up to 10 cents

    • Example: 0.18 → 0.20, 0.19 → 0.20, 0.98 → 1.00

Impact on eKasa Receipt Processing

The law amendment will directly affect the method of receipt processing on eKasa registers. When integrating cash rounding requirements into the eKasa system, the following issues must be addressed:

  • ✗ The rounding amount must be stated on the cash register receipt, but the rounding amount is not sent to the FS server
  • ✗ The total receipt price after rounding is sent to the FS server, but receipt items without the rounding item
  • ✗ There is no item through which the rounding amount could be sent to the FS server when rounding the receipt

Link to the approved amendment to Law 18/1996 Z.z. on prices

Anomalies that May Occur by Applying the Price Law Amendment

  • ✗ When comparing data from the FS server - summary of receipts with the summary of individual items counted from receipts, a difference may occur because rounding is not included in the items

  • ✗ The total receipt amount may dynamically change depending on the payment methods used, which may be misleading for the customer

Example of Dynamic Price Change:

Total receipt amount: 5.02 EUR

  • When paying by payment card remains unchanged: 5.02 EUR
  • When paying in cash changes to: 5.00 EUR
  • When paying with meal voucher (2.94 EUR) changes to: 5.04 EUR
    • Calculation: 5.02 - 2.94 = 2.08
    • Cash 2.08 is rounded to 2.10
    • Receipt price: 2.94 + 2.10 = 5.04 EUR

Necessary eKasa Adaptation Steps

eKasa Solutions with Protected Data Storage CHDU5000

Computer program eKasa client PEKK and CHDU5000 is VAROS certified eKasa solution

Changes to be Made:

  • For FT4000 printers - upload new print manager to the connected computer
  • For FT5000 printers - upload new version of the printer’s embedded program that supports rounding
  • Uploading programs that support rounding will be performed during January-June 2022
  • Cash rounding function will be automatically applied from 1.7.2022

A new type of variable will be created for the rounding parameter, through which the superior application can send the rounding amount. The rounding variable is in zero rate.

Changes to Printed Receipts and Closures

  • In cash register receipts with cash rounding obligation, a line with the calculation of the rounding value will be added
  • In overview closures, a line with the calculation of the rounding value will be added
  • Payment Method 1 is designated for Cash
  • New Payment Method 9 with the designation “Rounding” will be added, in which the rounding amount will be accumulated. This payment method will not be available to programmers

Possible Ways to Solve Cash Payment Rounding

Method 1: Automatic Rounding in PPEKK

The new PPEKK program will automatically round the receipt so that the total value paid in cash is calculated to 5 cents. With this method, no adjustment to the sales application is needed.

Method 2: Rounding from Sales Application

The sales application sends information about the cash rounding amount to the printer. With this method, application adjustment is needed.

Advantages of Individual Solutions

Method 1:

  • No need for sales application adjustment, everything is solved at the PPEKK level
  • Total receipt price will be equal to the receipt overview on the FS server

Method 2:

  • Total receipt price will be equal to the receipt overview on the FS server

Disadvantages of Individual Solutions

Method 1:

  • If the sales application needs to record the rounding amount, it must determine the cash rounding after each receipt

Method 2:

  • The sales application must distinguish what type of payment method will be used for payment and based on cash payment method send the cash rounding parameter

eKasa Solutions with BOWA Protected Data Storage

Computer program eKasa client PEKK and CHDÚ is BOWA certified solution

After publishing more detailed information about how to integrate the law amendment requirements into the BOWA eKasa solution, the interface of the TM4000 print manager and the FT5000 printer’s embedded program must be adjusted to new requirements.

Changes to be Made:

  • Upload new firmware to protected data storage FT5000B, FT4000B
  • Upload new PPEKK program to computer – for FT4000B printers
  • Upload new PPEKK program to printer - for FT5000B printers
  • Upload new version of print manager because the new PPEKK returns printer readiness status in a different way
  • The PPEKK program is uploaded to a specific cash register code, therefore KP registration is required during upgrade