TL;DR — Quick Summary
CFDI cancellation rejected by SAT: reasons 01-04, 72-hour recipient window, substitution UUID for reason 01, and how to fix motive, relation, and retry.
When you request CFDI cancellation on the SAT portal and the process ends rejected or not cancelled, the issue is usually the reason code (01-04), the substitution UUID, the relation between documents, or the recipient’s answer within the 72-hour window.
Prerequisites
- Valid e.firma or CSD for the issuer RFC that stamped the CFDI.
- UUID of the invoice to cancel and, when applicable, of the replacement CFDI.
- Active Buzón Tributario for issuer and recipient when acceptance is required.
- Access to PAC or ERP to validate XML, relations, and payment complements.
The Error
Typical messages when checking the UUID under Factura electrónica > Consultar estatus:
Cancellation rejected
Cancellation request rejected by the recipient
Not cancellable / code 203 when reason or relation rules fail
You may also see pending acceptance until the recipient responds; if they answer No within 72 hours, the original CFDI remains valid and accounting must treat it as active.
Root Cause
- Wrong cancellation reason (for example reason 03 when reason 01 applies because a replacement CFDI already exists).
- Reason 01 without substitution UUID or with a UUID that is not valid, cancelled, or from another RFC.
- Incorrect relation in the replacement XML (wrong TipoRelación or related UUID).
- Recipient rejection in Buzón Tributario within 72 hours when acceptance is required by amount or document type.
- Payment complements or credit notes already applied to the UUID.
- Expired CSD or e.firma when signing the cancellation request.
Step-by-Step Solution
1. Check status and acknowledgment
Log in to https://www.sat.gob.mx with e.firma, open Factura electrónica > Consultar estatus, and enter the UUID. Record CFDI status, cancellation request status, and last recipient response date.
2. Validate reasons 01-04
| Code | When to use | Substitution UUID |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Invoice with errors with relation to replacement | Required |
| 02 | Invoice with errors without relation | No |
| 03 | Operation did not occur | No |
| 04 | Nominative operation in global invoice | No |
If you already stamped a correcting invoice, you usually need reason 01 and the new comprobante’s UUID.
3. Verify relation and UUID on the replacement
Open the replacement XML and confirm CfdiRelacionados: TipoRelación 04 and the UUID of the invoice to cancel. On the portal, for reason 01, enter exactly the stamped replacement UUID.
4. Manage the recipient (72 hours)
When SAT shows recipient acceptance required:
- Ask the customer to open Buzón Tributario > Cancelaciones.
- Explain the reason and share the replacement CFDI if applicable.
- If they reject, do not repeat the same request without agreement; consider a credit note.
5. Retry or use an alternative
Fix reason or UUID, go back to Cancelar, and sign. If cancellation is not viable, issue an egress CFDI (credit note) and update payment complements linked to the original UUID in ERP and PAC.
Practical scenario: You stamped invoice A with wrong tax rate, then stamped replacement B with TipoRelación 04 pointing to A. You requested cancellation with reason 03 instead of 01 and without B’s UUID. SAT rejected the request. Fix: request again with reason 01 and B’s UUID, then ask the recipient to accept within 72 hours.
Alternative Solution
When the recipient refuses and SAT keeps the CFDI active:
- Issue a credit note for the amount to correct (or full amount if voiding the operation).
- For PPD invoices, adjust payment complement (REP) or partialities to real balances.
- Keep audit evidence: rejected cancellation acknowledgment, email to recipient, and credit note XML.
Prevention
| Practice | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Pre-stamp validation | Avoids wrong RFC, uso CFDI, or totals |
| Replacement before cancel | Makes reason 01 and UUID relation valid |
| Recipient onboarding | Reduces rejection inside 72 hours |
| Monthly CSD check | Prevents signature failures at cancel time |
- Validate data before stamping (RFC, CFDI use, payment method and form).
- When correcting, stamp the replacement first, then cancel the original with reason 01.
- Train customers on invoices over $1,000 MXN about Buzón Tributario and the 72-hour deadline.
- Renew CSD and e.firma early to avoid signing failures on bulk cancellations.
Related Issues
- Error 203: SAT says the document is not cancellable; review status and fiscal year rules.
- Cancellation stuck pending: recipient has not answered; wait the deadline or contact them.
- Replacement rejected by PAC: relation UUID mismatch; fix XML before cancelling again.
- PPD without complement: collected payments cannot be undone by cancellation alone; adjust REP.
Summary
- Rejected cancellation usually involves reasons 01-04, relation UUID, or recipient rejection within 72 hours.
- For reason 01, the replacement must be stamped and correctly related.
- Without recipient agreement, use a credit note and fix payment complements.