Steps
- Find the original entry. Go to Accounting › Journal Entry and filter by date range to find the entry you want to undo. Note its reference number and each line.
- Use Reverse if your list offers it. Where the entry's Actions menu shows Reverse, choose it and pick the reversal date. SeroPOS posts the mirror entry with the note Reversal of and the original reference.
- Otherwise add the mirror entry. Click Add and set the Journal Date to the day the correction should take effect, for example the first day of the new period.
- Swap the sides. Enter the same accounts and amounts as the original, with each debit entered as a credit and each credit as a debit.
- Say what it reverses. In Additional Notes, write Reversal of followed by the original reference so anyone reading the ledger can pair them.
- Save and check. Save the entry, then open the affected accounts' ledgers. The original and the reversal net to zero.
When to reverse and when to delete
Delete only a mistake nobody has relied on yet, such as an entry posted a minute ago. Once a period has been reported, filed or shared with your accountant, reverse instead. Deleting changes figures that have already been reported; a reversal leaves them alone and records the correction on its own date.
A common use is an accrual: book an estimated cost at year end, reverse it on the first day of the new year, then record the real invoice when it arrives.
Limits
An entry can only be reversed once; the one-click Reverse refuses a second reversal and names the entry that already reversed it. A reversal dated in a locked period is refused. Accounting is an add-on module. The Accounting item shows in the back office sidebar only when your subscription includes it and your role has the Accounting permissions.
Frequently asked questions
Is reversing the same as deleting a journal entry?
No. Deleting removes the entry as if it never existed. Reversing adds a second entry that cancels the first, so both are visible in the ledger. Accountants prefer reversals for anything already reported.
What date should the reversal have?
Use the date the correction should take effect. For a simple mistake, that is usually today. For a year-end accrual, it is normally the first day of the next financial year.
Can I reverse only part of an entry?
A reversal mirrors the whole entry. To correct just one line, post a new balanced journal entry that adjusts only the accounts that were wrong.