Form error messages and how to fix them
Updated
Find the message you see, then follow the fix. Most messages appear in a pop-up, usually under the title An error occurred. If your browser marks a field as empty, it is required. Fill it in and try again.
Create a receipt
| Message | Fix |
|---|---|
| Email address is required | Fill in Organization Email. |
| Authorized signature is required | Upload a signature or use Type to Sign. See Logo and signature. |
| Please enter a valid EIN in the format 12-3456789. | The EIN doesn't have 9 digits. See EIN format. |
| Item description must be at least 5 characters | Describe the item in 5 to 50 characters. See Non-cash receipts. |
| Please enter the fair market value for goods/services | You chose the Option B statement and left the value empty. Enter a number above zero. See Option B receipts. |
| Invalid fair market value for goods/services | Use a plain number, such as 40.00. |
| Please describe the goods or services provided | You chose the Option B statement and left Goods or services provided (description) empty. Describe what the donor received, up to 100 characters. The server says the same as Description of goods or services is required for acknowledgment statement B. See Option B receipts. |
| Organization name must be 80 characters or fewer, or a similar message naming another field | The receipt is limited so the PDF fits on one page: organization name 80, location issued 40, donor name 50, donor address 100 in all, correction reason 100. The form fields stop you at the limit and show a counter. See Create a receipt. |
| Daily limit reached!, Daily Limit Reached | Today's free receipt for that EIN is used. See The free daily receipt. |
| Amount Exceeds Free Tier | The gift is over $10,000. Sign in and use credits. |
| Purchase Credits Required | The server says this receipt needs credits. Sign in and buy credits or a pass. See Credits and passes. |
| Insufficient Credits: You need N credits for this receipt type but only have M. | Buy more credits, or use a pass. |
| Enter one valid donor email address, or leave it blank. | Fix the donor email or clear it. See Email receipts to donors. |
| Check the box to confirm you'll keep your own copy. | Tick the box under the donor email, or clear the donor email. |
| This receipt isn't being paid with credits or a pass, so it can't be emailed to the donor... | Clear the donor email, or buy credits first. |
Bulk
| Message | Fix |
|---|---|
| Credits Required for Bulk Generation | Sign in, and have credits or a pass. |
| Maximum Rows Reached | Paste at most 100 rows. Use Upload a file for more. |
| Validation Error: Authorized signature is required | Add your Authorized Signature. |
| Validation Error: Please enter a valid EIN in the format 12-3456789 before generating. | Check the EIN above the grid. |
| N rows need fixing before we can generate | The box under the grid lists each problem by the row number in the # column, such as Row 3: the gift date is missing. Fix those rows and generate again. Nothing is charged until every row is fine. See Paste rows for bulk receipts. |
| Row N: describe the goods or services provided (or enter a default description above). | A row on Option B has no description. Fill in the second box of the row's Goods or services provided (Option B) cell, or the Default goods or services provided (description). |
| Row N: enter the fair market value of the goods or services provided. | A row on Option B has no value above zero. Fill in the first box of the row's Goods or services provided (Option B) cell, or the default value. |
| “...” could be day/month or month/day. Choose an order above, or type YYYY-MM-DD. | Click Day / Month / Year or Month / Day / Year in the box above the grid, or retype the date as YYYY-MM-DD. |
| Some pasted columns were left out | Your paste had more columns than the grid has from where you clicked. The extra columns on the right were ignored. |
| Not enough credits: This run needs N credits and you have M. Remove rows or buy more credits. | Option B rows cost 2 credits. Buy credits or use a pass. |
| Generation Failed: An error occurred during bulk generation. | The server refused the batch for a reason the page could not name. Check your organization details, then try again. See Paste rows for bulk receipts. |
| Generating these receipts took too long, so nothing was charged... | Paste fewer rows, or upload a file. |
| 1 donor email address isn't valid (highlighted in red). Fix it or clear it. | Fix the red donor email cells or clear them. |
| This run needs N credits and you have M. | (File upload.) Buy credits or a pass, then start again. |
| Another upload is still generating. Wait for it to finish. | Only one upload runs at a time. |
| Choose a written acknowledgment for these receipts. | (File upload.) Pick a Default IRS Acknowledgment Statement at the top of the page. |
For the messages on the review table, see Prepare your spreadsheet.
Correct
| Message | Fix |
|---|---|
| Sign In Required | Sign in. Corrections need an account. |
| Original receipt number must contain only letters, numbers, spaces, dashes, and underscores | Remove other symbols from the number. It can be 50 characters at most. |
| Please provide a correction reason (minimum 10 characters) | Write at least 10 characters. The most is 100. |
| Complete required fields to preview | Fill in the fields listed. The preview button stays off until you do. |
If a message isn't here, try again. If it keeps happening, email hello@freecharityreceipts.com with the message and the page.
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