Creating credit notes

A credit note is created if (part of) an invoice has to be adjusted.
It is created, for example, if part of the order was not delivered or executed, or if the customer has paid too much (for example because a discount was not given). It is in fact a kind of "minus invoice".

Example:
If you have sent an invoice of €100 to the customer, but the customer returns a product with a value of €20, you create a credit note of €20. The customer then only has to pay €80, or you refund €20 if they had already paid.

Navigate quickly to:

• creating a credit note from an invoice
• creating a blank credit note
• link between credit note and invoice
• numbering of credit notes

Creating a credit note

You can create credit notes for sales invoices and incoming invoices. To do so, click one of the two 'minus signs' at the top of the overview:

Creating a credit note from an invoice

1. Go to the overview of the invoices and tick the invoice you want to credit.
2. Click the 'minus sign' with the white background at the top (number 1 in the image above).
3. All the invoice lines have been copied to the credit note. Keep only the lines and quantities that have to be credited.
4. Send this credit note the way you send your invoices: to the customer (Peppol, email, and so on) and to the accountant.
5. When you create a credit note, it is possible to have the status of the credited invoice changed automatically to, for example, 'credited'. You set this via settings > invoices > status

Starting from a blank credit note

If you have a long invoice and you only have to credit one line, you can also start from a blank credit note.

1. Go to the overview of the invoices
2. Click the 'minus sign' next to the 'plus sign' at the top (number 1 in the image above)
3. Fill in the number of the credited invoice manually.
4. Add the lines and quantities that have to be credited.
5. Send this credit note the way you send your invoices: to the customer (Peppol, email, and so on) and to the accountant.
6. When you create a credit note, it is possible to have the status of the credited invoice changed automatically to, for example, 'credited'. You set this via settings > invoices > status

Link between credit note and invoice

On a credit note there are 2 fields with which you can create a link between the credit note and the invoice. Both fields have a different function; below it is explained in detail what the fields are meant for.

Credited invoice

This is a field that creates a link between the credit note and the original invoice. This field has no influence on the amount of the original invoice. The status of the original invoice can, however, be changed automatically to 'credited' if this is filled in in the settings.

To do so, go to settings > invoices > statuses > Creditstatus: fill in the status you want here

Deduct from

This is a field that has an influence on the outstanding amount of the linked invoice. When an invoice is linked in the 'deduct from' field, the amount of the credit note is subtracted from the amount of the original invoice.

Example: suppose you have an invoice of €100 and a credit note of €20 is created.
If you link an invoice in the 'deduct from' field on the credit note, the outstanding amount of that invoice is reduced by €20. This can be the original invoice, or another invoice that is still outstanding.

Numbering of credit notes

The credit note automatically receives a number according to the journal that has been set. The numbering can run on with the invoices or can run separately.
Via the journal the numbering of the credit notes can be adjusted.

Updated on: 08/09/2026