[GNC] Correcting an over payment on an invoice

[Adrien Monteleone]

The 'correct' accounting way is to never edit an existing transaction, 
but instead, issue a 'correcting transaction'. This could be for the 
difference, or it could be first, a reversing transaction, and then the 
correct transaction. Which is used depends on various factors beyond the 
scope of this message and may well depend on the laws of your local 
jurisdiction. Your question on correct method, is an 'accounting 
question' not a 'how to do the correct thing in GnuCash question'. We 
can't give official accounting advice here.

With that out of the way...

Editing the date of an invoice is possible, but you have to un-post it 
first, make the change, then re-post.

If you are issuing a new invoice, date it however you like when creating it.

But I'm a bit perplexed as to your chosen solution. You indicate the 
client *overpaid*. Why would you issue an invoice to *charge* them the 
difference? They paid you more than they owed. They now have a credit 
with you. You owe them, not the other way around. You can carry this 
credit on your books until their next invoice, and apply it as needed, 
sending them a notice for the remainder. Or you can refund it.

Also, an over-payment doesn't cause your books to be unbalanced or 
unable to reconcile.

Did you enter the payment correctly as an over-payment?

If so, you should be able to reconcile your affected account. 
(checking?, otherwise, what accounts are you having trouble reconciling?)

If not, then you can either edit the payment, or delete and re-enter the 
payment, (or reverse it, then enter a correct one) and then reconcile.

There is no need to mess with the invoice at all.

Regards,
Adrien

On 7/7/24 4:38 AM, Michael Campbell wrote:
> I was just reconciling the last quarters books and could not get the damn things to reconcile. I finally tracked it down to a client overpaying on an invoice by a small amount, transposing some digits on the invoice.
> Now I am no accountant.
> I thought I could fix the books by just sending the client  another invoice of the difference, with a nice funny charge.
> Is there any way I can change the date of an invoice in GNUCash to last month to reconcile to the bank statements?
> Is there a more correct accounting way to correct this?