Credit notes and debit notes

Handle sales returns with a credit note and purchase returns with a debit note.

Updated

When goods come back, you raise a note instead of a bill:

  • A credit note is for a sales return — a customer returns something you sold.
  • A debit note is for a purchase return — you send something back to a supplier.

Both work like the invoice editor, so the steps below will feel familiar. See Create an invoice for how the item lines and totals work.

Raise a credit note (sales return)

  1. Open Invoices from the sidebar.
  2. Click Credit note. The editor opens with the title Credit Note.
  3. Pick the customer.
  4. In Against invoice, type the number of the original bill the goods came back against. This is optional — you can leave it blank for a return with no bill on record.
  5. Add the returned items, quantities and rates, just like an invoice.
  6. Click Save (Ctrl+S).

A credit note carries no amount “due” — it reduces what the customer owes. In the invoices list it is marked with a Credit note badge and appears only under the All filter.

Raise a debit note (purchase return)

  1. Open the Debit Note editor.
  2. Pick the supplier (vendor).
  3. In Against purchase, type the reference of the original purchase, if you have it.
  4. Add the items you are returning.
  5. Click Save (Ctrl+S).

Notes

  • The GST split (CGST + SGST, or IGST for another state) is worked out the same way as on an invoice, from the party’s state.
  • Discounts are per line, prices can include or exclude GST, and totals are rounded to the nearest rupee — exactly as on a normal bill.