# Create a credit note

A credit note lowers what a client owes on an invoice. Choose Create credit note in the invoice's menu, list what you credit, then save. The invoice's amount due goes down.

## Create the credit note

1. Open “Finances” › “Sales invoices” in the menu.
2. Click the actions button (**⋮**) at the end of the invoice's line and choose “Create credit note”. You can also click “Add new” and choose “Credit note”, then choose the invoice.
3. Fill in the sections below. Fields with a star are required.
4. Click “Create credit note”.

## “The credit note”

- “Credit note number”: Skileo fills in the next number of your credit note series, or of your invoice series if you have no credit note series. With two series or more, choose the “Document series” first. See [Number your invoices with series](https://www.skileo.com/help/en/number-invoices-with-series).
- “Document date”: the date of the credit note.

## “The invoice”

The “Related invoice” is the invoice you credit. If you started from the invoice's menu, it is already chosen. Otherwise:

1. Click “Select invoice”.
2. Search by number, or filter by client, category or period.
3. Click an invoice to see it, then click “Select”.

The section then shows the invoice's client, dates, total and “Amount due”. The credit note takes the client and the currency of the invoice.

## “Credited items”

List what you credit: for each line, the description, the quantity, the unit price and the VAT. Credit notes have no discount.

## “For the client” and “More options”

As on an invoice: the “Document language”, a “Message to the client (appears on the credit note)”, an internal note, your international company details and additional documents. See [Create a sales invoice](https://www.skileo.com/help/en/create-a-sales-invoice).

## What happens to the invoice

- Its amount due goes down by the total of the credit note. The credit note shows as a line in the invoice's payment history.
- The invoice turns “Partially paid”, or “Paid” if nothing is due any more.
- The credit note itself shows “Paid” in the list.
- Like a payment, the credit note locks the invoice: it can no longer be changed, made void or deleted.

## Change or delete a credit note

- To change it, click the actions button (**⋮**) on its line and choose “Edit”. On its page, click “Edit credit note”. The invoice's amount due follows the new total.
- To delete it, tick it in the list and choose “Delete” at the top. The invoice's amount due goes back up. The credit note goes to the “Trash”. See [How the trash works](https://www.skileo.com/help/en/how-the-trash-works).

To send a credit note, do as for an invoice. See [Send an invoice by e-mail](https://www.skileo.com/help/en/send-an-invoice).


## Common questions

### Why can't I choose an invoice?

It is paid in full: there is nothing left to credit. Void invoices are not in the list.

### Can a credit note be bigger than what is due?

Yes. The invoice then shows “Paid”.

### Can I copy a credit note?

Yes, but the copy is a new credit note on the same invoice. It lowers the amount due again.

### Why is there no “Delete” in the credit note's menu?

A credit note linked to an invoice shows “Paid”, and the menu hides “Delete” on paid lines. Tick the credit note and use “Delete” at the top instead.

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https://www.skileo.com/help/en/create-a-credit-note · Updated: 2026-11-05