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# Managing your invoice numbers in Robaws

Every invoice is assigned a unique number, the **invoice number.** It is a legal requirement that invoices have a unique and consecutive number.

*Quick links:*
* [How do I determine my invoice numbers?](#2-how-do-i-determine-the-numbering-of-my-invoices)
* [My numbering is no longer correct - what now?](#2-my-numbering-is-no-longer-correct---what-now)
* [Adjusting the numbering to the new financial year](#2-adjusting-the-numbering-to-the-new-financial-year)

## How do I determine the numbering of my invoices?

The invoice number that the invoice is given is determined by the [journal](https://support.robaws.com/en/article/working-with-journals-glx6iz/).
The numbering is composed on the basis of the settings on the journal.

An invoice number or credit note number has two parts and consists of a prefix and a **number of digits** at the end. You can set the number of digits an invoice has to be given on the journal itself as well.
The **prefix** is usually built up from the year (y):

* Fyy = the prefix for 2025 is translated here as F25
* Fyyyy = the prefix for 2025 is translated here as F2025

||| If you have a financial year that does not run parallel to the calendar year, you cannot use 'y' in the prefix

## My numbering is no longer correct - What now?

Once you have created an invoice, your invoice is assigned a number. If that number is no longer correct according to the automatic numbering, you have to go through 2 steps to get the automatic numbering right again.

1. Change the invoice number manually
2. Change the next number in the journal settings

**Changing the invoice number manually**

For an invoice that has already been created, you have to change the number manually. To do so, click the **change number** action button (pencil) at the top of the invoice.
You can then enter the number this invoice has to be given manually.

**Changing the next number in the journal settings**

You can get the automatic numbering to run correctly again by setting the next number on the journal.
To do so, go to the settings of the journal (settings > general > master data > financial > journals). Open the journal whose numbering you want to put right.
After clicking 'change next number', you can let the numbering for a particular year run automatically again by entering the next number an invoice has to be given.


## Adjusting the numbering to the new financial year

#### My financial year starts on 1 January

If your **new financial year starts on 1 January** and your invoice numbers are built up with the prefix 'Fyy', you do not have to do anything.  At the start of a new year the prefix then changes automatically and the numbering of your invoices starts again at 1.

*Example: your last invoice of 2024 is F240358.  Your first invoice in 2025 will automatically have the following number: F250001.*


#### My financial year does NOT start on 1 January

If your new financial year does not start on 1 January but at some other moment, you have to **adjust the numbering manually**, once, at the start of a new financial year.
1. at the start of the new financial year, go to settings > general > journals
2. open the correct sales journal
3. change your prefix manually to the correct year
4. if you want the numbering to start from 1 for the new financial year, click 'change next number'
5. change the 'next number' to 1 -> the example shows you the number of your next invoice