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EDIFACT message guide · Insurance

RETACC Reinsurance technical account

The UN/EDIFACT message used to report a party's position in the sender's books for a single reinsurance contract.

Sent by
Insurer, reinsurer or broker
Received by
Counterparty to the reinsurance contract
Standard
UN/EDIFACT · Batch message
X12 equivalent
No direct equivalent

What is the EDIFACT RETACC message?

RETACC is the UN/EDIFACT reinsurance technical account. The directory defines it as a message the sender uses to report to the receiver the receiver's position in the sender's books for one reinsurance contract. It is a type of account for services rendered and may initiate a payment.

A technical account summarizes, for a period, the premiums, claims, commissions and other items under a contract and the resulting balance. It is the basic accounting document of reinsurance, and its balances are later settled with RESETT.

How the EDIFACT RETACC message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT RETACC Reinsurance technical account message. Insurer, reinsurer or broker sends it to counterparty to the reinsurance contract. It usually starts the exchange. It is usually followed by RESETT. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: GEI (Processing information) and body and segment groups: the required SG1 loop with NAD (Name and address), DTM (Date/time/period), the required SG2 loop with CUX (Currencies), RFF (Reference) and the required SG3 loop with MOA (Monetary amount) and DTM (Date/time/period) and UNS (Section control). 2 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT RETACC message worksReinsurance technical account: who sends it, where it fits and what the directory marks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeRETACCSENDERInsurer, reinsurer orbrokerRECEIVERCounterparty to thereinsurance contractCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYRESETTReinsurancesettlement2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDsUNB … UNZMessage RETACCUNH … UNTSTART OF MESSAGEGEIProcessing informationBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPSMandatory group SG1 · repeats up to 9NADName and addressDTMDate/time/periodMandatory group SG2 · repeats up to 99CUXCurrenciesRFFReferenceMandatory group SG3 · repeats up to 999MOAMonetary amountDTMDate/time/period+ required UNS and 2 conditional groups, starting with:RFFMOABlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditional groups are listed by the trigger segment that starts them; a group is sent only when its data applies.Conditional segments outside groups are not drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in the UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for RETACC. Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.
How the EDIFACT RETACC message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT RETACC Reinsurance technical account message. Insurer, reinsurer or broker sends it to counterparty to the reinsurance contract. It usually starts the exchange. It is usually followed by RESETT. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: GEI (Processing information) and body and segment groups: the required SG1 loop with NAD (Name and address), DTM (Date/time/period), the required SG2 loop with CUX (Currencies), RFF (Reference) and the required SG3 loop with MOA (Monetary amount) and DTM (Date/time/period) and UNS (Section control). 2 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT RETACCmessage worksReinsurance technical account: who sends it,where it fits and what the directory marksmandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeRETACCSENDERInsurer,reinsurer orbrokerRECEIVERCounterparty tothe reinsurancecontractCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYRESETTReinsurance settlement2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDs(UNB … UNZ)Message RETACC (UNH … UNT)START OF MESSAGEGEIProcessing informationBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPSMandatory group SG1 · repeats upto 9NADName and addressDTMDate/time/periodUNSSection control+ required SG2 (CUX) and 2 conditionalgroups, starting with:RFFMOABlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditionalgroups are listed by the trigger segment thatstarts them; a group is sent only when its dataapplies. Conditional segments outside groups arenot drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in theUN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for RETACC.Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.

How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends RETACC, to whom, and which messages usually come before and after it. The lower part shows what the directory D.21A itself requires: the envelopes around RETACC and the segments and segment groups it marks mandatory. Conditional groups are listed by their trigger segment rather than drawn in full. This is the directory's minimum, not a trading partner's requirement: a message implementation guide, such as an industry subset or a partner’s own guide, usually makes some conditional groups mandatory, restricts the codes and may use an older directory.

Expand diagram Download SVG

When it is used

  • Reporting quarterly accounts on a reinsurance treaty
  • Showing premiums, claims and commissions for a period
  • Initiating payment of a contract balance

Where it fits in the message flow

This message RETACC Reinsurance technical account
Usually followed by RESETT Reinsurance settlement

Structure

Mandatory segments in RETACC (directory D.21A)

In UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A, the RETACC message has 33 segment positions arranged in 6 segment groups. These are the segments and segment groups marked mandatory at message level, in order; a mandatory group is shown with the segment that starts it. Segments inside conditional groups are needed only when the group is used. This is the directory’s requirement, not your trading partner’s: each partner’s message implementation guide names the directory it uses, often an older one such as D.96A or D.01B where the structure can differ, makes some conditional segments mandatory and restricts the codes.

  • UNH
  • GEI
  • SG1 (NAD)
  • DTM
  • SG2 (CUX)
  • UNS
  • UNT

Practical example

RETACC in practice

A cedent prepares the second-quarter accounts for a quota share treaty. It sends each reinsurer a RETACC with the ceded premium, ceded claims paid, reinsurance commission and the balance due. The reinsurers check the figures and include the balance in the next settlement.

Implementation

Implementation considerations for RETACC

  • Report one contract and period per account.
  • Break down premium, claims and commission items clearly.
  • Use contract references consistently across accounts and settlements.
  • Follow the market's agreed accounting standards.

How ECOM helps

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Industry

Financial Services

Secure file transfer and B2B integration for banks and financial institutions.

Solution

Financial Document Automation

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Solution

B2B Integration

Connect every customer, supplier, carrier and bank across EDI, API, file and portal channels.

Compare X12 and EDIFACT, or see answers to general questions in the EDI FAQ.

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