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Sometimes an invoice needs to be corrected after it has been sent. Perhaps you billed the wrong amount, the client cancelled part of the work, or you agreed on a discount after the invoice was already delivered. Since sent invoices cannot be edited in Aourly, the solution is to issue a credit note.

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What Is a Credit Note?

A credit note (kreditfaktura in Swedish) is an official document that reverses the amount on an original invoice. It is a standard practice in Swedish business accounting and is required by bookkeeping regulations when you need to correct a previously issued invoice. Credit notes:
  • Are linked to the original invoice they reverse.
  • Have their own sequential invoice number.
  • Are clearly marked as Credit type (as opposed to the normal Debit type).
  • Reverse the VAT reported on the original invoice.

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When to Issue a Credit Note

Common reasons for issuing a credit note:
  • Billing errors — you invoiced the wrong amount, wrong rate, or wrong number of hours.
  • Cancelled work — the client cancelled a project or part of the scope after you already invoiced.
  • Post-invoice discounts — you and the client agreed on a discount after the invoice was sent.
  • Returned goods — if applicable, goods were returned and need to be refunded.
  • Duplicate invoicing — you accidentally invoiced the same work twice.

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How to Create a Credit Note

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Step 1: Open the Original Invoice

Navigate to Invoices and find the invoice you need to credit. Click to open it. The invoice must have a Sent or Paid status — you cannot credit a Draft invoice (just delete or edit it instead).

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Step 2: Click Send Credit Invoice

Click the Send Credit Invoice action button. This action is available on sent and paid invoices.

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Step 3: Confirm

Review the credit note details and confirm. Aourly will:
  • Create a new credit note document linked to the original invoice.
  • Assign the credit note its own invoice number.
  • Mark the original invoice status as Credited.
  • Generate a PDF for the credit note.

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Step 4: Issue a Corrected Invoice (If Needed)

If the credit was due to an error and the client still owes you money, create a new invoice with the correct details:
  1. Go through the normal Creating Invoices process.
  2. Reference the original invoice number in the comments field so the client understands the correction chain.
  3. Review and send the new invoice as usual.

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The Correction Workflow

The full correction flow when you need to fix an error on a sent invoice: 
Original Invoice (Sent) --> Credit Note (credits the original) --> New Invoice (with corrections)
This three-step process ensures a clean audit trail that satisfies Swedish bookkeeping requirements. Every transaction is documented and traceable.

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Important Things to Know

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You Cannot Edit Sent Invoices

This is a fundamental rule in Aourly and in Swedish bookkeeping. Once an invoice is sent, it becomes part of your accounting record. The only way to correct it is through the credit-and-reissue process.

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Credit Notes Affect Your Bookkeeping

If you use a bookkeeping integration (Fortnox or Visma), the credit note will be exported to your accounting system automatically. The corresponding voucher entries will reverse the revenue and VAT from the original invoice.

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Credit Notes Appear in Your Invoice List

Credit notes show up in the invoice list alongside regular invoices. They are identifiable by their Credit type label. You can filter the invoice list by type to see only credit notes if needed.

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Sequential Numbering Is Maintained

Credit notes receive invoice numbers from the same sequential series as regular invoices. This maintains an unbroken number sequence as required by Swedish regulations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a credit note and deleting an invoice? You can only delete draft invoices. Once an invoice is sent, it cannot be deleted — it must be credited. This is required by Swedish bookkeeping law to maintain an audit trail. Can I partially credit an invoice? The Send Credit Invoice action credits the full amount. If you only need to correct part of the invoice, credit the full invoice and then create a new invoice for the correct amount. Does my client receive the credit note? The credit note PDF is generated and available for download. If email delivery is configured, the client is notified. Does the credit note get its own number? Yes. Credit notes are assigned their own sequential invoice number and are clearly identified as Credit type documents. What happens to the original invoice after crediting? The original invoice status changes to Credited. It remains in your invoice list for reference and audit purposes but the amount is no longer considered owed.
You cannot edit a sent invoice. Crediting and re-issuing is the only way to correct mistakes after sending.
Credit notes are linked to the original invoice and appear as a separate entry in your invoice list with the Credit type.
If you use a bookkeeping integration, the credit note will also be exported to your accounting system automatically.