# SEPA Refunds

Saferpay does offer the possibility to accept refunds for certain SEPA-based payment methods. However those need special attention. SEPA does not directly offer refunds. Due to this, Saferpay offers a workaround, to make manual SEPA refunds easier for the merchant.

## Supported payment methods

The following payment methods are supported:

* [SEPA Direct Debit](https://docs.saferpay.com/home/integration-guide/payment-methods/sepa-direct-debit)
* [SOFORT by Klarna](https://docs.saferpay.com/home/integration-guide/licences-and-interfaces/transaction-interface/refunds/broken-reference)

## Activation

Before you -the merchant- can start accepting refunds, they need to be activated inside the Saferpay Backoffice: 

![(click to enlarge)](https://3537448238-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fzpi9teY7Tm2pCZ1Bw8zO%2Fuploads%2FCgKb7mK2dwOnUoiA34uY%2FBO_Settings_PRocessing_SEPA-Refunds_7-6-24.png?alt=media\&token=589b9efa-95fe-47ef-833b-f328e3f12423)

## Executing refunds

Once the activation has been done, you can execute refunds, like any other payment method. Either [via API](https://docs.saferpay.com/home/integration-guide/licences-and-interfaces/transaction-interface/refunds), or [inside the Saferpay Backoffice](https://docs.saferpay.com/home/interfaces/backoffice/transactions/journal-details#refund).

{% hint style="warning" %}
When using the API, please make sure to use the[ Referenced Refund](https://docs.saferpay.com/home/integration-guide/licences-and-interfaces/transaction-interface/refunds/..#method-1-referenced-refunds) method, as the Alias method can lead to issues.
{% endhint %}

## Uploading the refunds into your online-banking

This is, where SEPA-refunds deviate from other payment methods, like credit cards. As mentioned before, SEPA does not offer direct refunds via the processing itself. This is why Saferpay first collects all executed refunds inside the backoffice: 

![(click to enlarge)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/saferpay/sndbx/master/images/BO_Manual_Refund_Export.png)

These refunds need then to be exported into a special XML-File, which can be done right there inside the Backoffice. The created XML-file can then be uploaded into your online banking-portal, which executes these refunds in a batch, eliminating the need, of doing them all manually. 

{% hint style="info" %}
This XML-File follows [ISO 20022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_20022). Also [see official message-specification](https://www.iso20022.org/sites/default/files/documents/D7/ISO20022_RTPG_pacs00800106_July_2017_v1_1.pdf).
{% endhint %}

{% file src="<https://3537448238-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MJbIA8fSCwoMDsZw5y-%2F-MeA2l4VnXQSfvgjTCYG%2F-MeA5gYwd0frDQmC0AfF%2FRefundExportExample.xml?alt=media&token=8347a18c-c314-4bbb-9dda-3d874c546410>" %}
Example File
{% endfile %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
SEPA-refund-files from the test-environment can't be uploaded into online-banking portals, since they only contain test-data, thus non-valid IBANs!
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
It may be necessary to contact your bank, for this import-feature to be activated! Some also may not offer it at all!
{% endhint %}