> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Void, credit, or correct an invoice

> Fix billing mistakes safely—void a wrong invoice, issue a credit note, or edit a finalized bill without confusing the customer.

## What you will accomplish

You will know which tool to use when a **customer invoice** needs to change after it was created—**void**, **issue credit note**, or **edit invoice**—and how to complete each step without duplicate charges or a broken payment link.

Use this guide when:

* The wrong amount, customer, or line items were sent
* The customer paid by cash or check and you need to remove processing fees from the balance
* A customer should not pay an invoice anymore (duplicate bill, canceled service, wrong month)
* Your manager asked you to fix a finalized invoice instead of creating a brand-new bill from scratch

<Warning>
  **Ask your manager when unsure**

  Voiding and crediting affect real money and customer records. If the invoice is large or already **Paid**, confirm the right step with your billing manager before you continue.
</Warning>

<Note>
  **Customer invoices only**

  This guide is for bills **your facility sends to customers**. Vendor bills from outside providers use a different workflow—see [Review and pay vendor invoices](/docs/payments/review-and-pay-vendor-invoices).
</Note>

## Before you start

* You can open [Payments > Invoices](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/payments/invoices) and find the invoice using **Filters → Type → Customer**.
* You know the invoice **status** (**Draft**, **Open**, or **Paid**)—see [Review a customer invoice](/docs/payments/review-a-customer-invoice).
* You know what went wrong (wrong amount, wrong customer, duplicate bill, customer already paid another way).
* Your manager approved voiding, crediting, or editing if your team requires sign-off.

## Choose the right fix

Not every mistake uses the same button. Pick the option that matches what should happen next.

<Info>
  **Void invoice** — Cancel the invoice completely. The customer can no longer pay it. Use when the whole bill should disappear (duplicate invoice, wrong customer, service canceled before payment).

  **Issue credit note** — Lower the amount still owed on an **Open** invoice without canceling the whole bill. Use when part of the charge should come off (processing fees after cash/check payment, partial goodwill credit, small correction).

  **Edit invoice** — Change line items on a finalized invoice. The system **voids the old invoice** and **creates a new draft** with your fixes. Use when descriptions, quantities, or totals need to change and you plan to send a corrected bill.
</Info>

| Situation | Best choice | Why |
| - | - | - |
| Invoice never sent; still internal | Fix the **Draft**, then **Finalize invoice** | Safest time to catch mistakes |
| Duplicate invoice sent by mistake | **Void invoice** | Customer should not see two identical bills |
| Wrong customer on the invoice | **Void invoice**, then [create a new invoice](/docs/payments/create-an-invoice) | Keeps payment history clean per customer |
| Line items or total need to change | **Edit invoice** | Builds a corrected draft from the finalized bill |
| Customer paid cash/check and should not pay processing fees | **Issue credit note** → **Processing fees only** | Removes the fee without voiding the whole invoice |
| Small discount on an open balance | **Issue credit note** → **Custom amount** | Lowers what the customer still owes |
| Customer already paid in full | Ask your manager | You may need a refund process outside this guide |

## Open the invoice you need to fix

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Payments > Invoices">
    Sign in to your dashboard. In the left sidebar, click **Payments**, then **Invoices**. You can also open [Payments > Invoices](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/payments/invoices) directly.

    **Expected result:** You see the **Invoices** page with tabs such as **All**, **Customer**, and **Vendor**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Filter to customer invoices">
    Click **Filters**. Under **Type**, choose **Customer**.

    **Why this matters:** The **Vendor** filter is for bills your facility receives from outside companies. Stay on **Customer** for customer corrections.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find and open the invoice">
    Search by customer name, email, or invoice number if needed. Check the **Status** column, then click the invoice row.

    **Expected result:** The invoice detail page opens with the customer name, **Status** badge, amount due, and **Actions** on the right (for open invoices).
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ/images/payments/customer-invoice-detail-open.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ&q=85&s=7adcd44975be0d4f30499655c03c73cd" alt="Open customer invoice detail page showing status badge, amount due, line items, and Actions button" width="1196" height="720" data-path="images/payments/customer-invoice-detail-open.webp" />
</Frame>

*On an **Open** invoice, correction tools live under **Actions** in the top-right corner.*

## Fix a draft before anyone pays

Drafts are the safest time to catch mistakes—nothing has been sent to the customer yet.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the draft invoice">
    With **Filters → Type → Customer** selected, click a row with **Draft** status.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review line items and total">
    Scroll through each line. Fix descriptions, quantities, tax, or due date on the page if your role allows editing.

    **Why this matters:** Changes on a draft do not affect the customer until you finalize.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Delete if the draft is not needed">
    Click **Actions**, then **Delete draft** if the whole invoice was created by mistake.

    **Expected result:** The invoice disappears from the list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Finalize when correct">
    Click **Finalize invoice** when the bill is ready to send or charge.

    **Expected result:** Status becomes **Open** or **Waiting for customer**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ/images/payments/customer-invoice-detail-draft.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ&q=85&s=e1cb61f416d2980283316b15e0ca49f2" alt="Draft customer invoice detail page showing Draft status and Finalize invoice button" width="1196" height="720" data-path="images/payments/customer-invoice-detail-draft.webp" />
</Frame>

*Fix drafts before you finalize. After finalizing, you use void, credit, or edit workflows instead of simple deletion.*

## Void an invoice

Use **Void invoice** when the customer should **not** pay this bill at all.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Confirm the invoice is Open">
    **Void invoice** appears when status is **Open**. You cannot void a **Draft** (delete the draft instead) or a **Paid** invoice (ask your manager about refunds or credits).

    **Expected result:** Status badge shows **Open**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Actions">
    Click **Actions** in the top-right area of the invoice detail page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Void invoice">
    Scroll to the bottom of the menu and click **Void invoice** (red text).

    **Why this matters:** Voiding tells the system this bill is canceled. The customer's old payment link will stop working.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Read the confirmation window">
    A window titled **Void this invoice?** appears. Read the warning: the customer can no longer pay this invoice, and voiding cannot be undone.

    Add an optional **Reason for voiding** (for example **Duplicate of INV-1042**).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Void invoice to confirm">
    **Expected result:** Status changes to **Void**. The invoice stays on the list for your records but can no longer be paid.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ/images/payments/customer-invoice-detail-actions-menu.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ&q=85&s=60049056c9884681b79693c7652141e3" alt="Actions menu on an open customer invoice showing Resend invoice email, Issue credit note, Void invoice, and Mark as paid options" width="1196" height="720" data-path="images/payments/customer-invoice-detail-actions-menu.webp" />
</Frame>

*Open **Actions** on an **Open** invoice. **Void invoice** and **Issue credit note** are in the menu.*

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/65OxqKrCpk0fG4Bx/images/payments/void-invoice-confirm-fresh.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=65OxqKrCpk0fG4Bx&q=85&s=9c8ab2d9869db2fe514fd731126dda15" alt="Draft invoice Actions menu showing Send invoice, Mark as paid, and Delete draft options" width="1280" height="800" data-path="images/payments/void-invoice-confirm-fresh.webp" />
</Frame>

*On a **Draft** invoice, use **Delete draft** if the whole bill was a mistake. On **Open** invoices, use **Void invoice** instead.*

<Warning>
  **Void is permanent**

  You cannot un-void an invoice. If the customer still owes money, [create a new invoice](/docs/payments/create-an-invoice) after voiding.
</Warning>

## Issue a credit note

Use **Issue credit note** when the invoice should stay **open** but the **amount due should go down**.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open an Open invoice">
    From [Payments > Invoices](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/payments/invoices) (**Filters → Type → Customer**), open the invoice with **Open** status.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Actions and choose Issue credit note">
    **Expected result:** A window titled **Issue credit note** opens showing the current balance.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the credit amount">
    Pick one option:

    * **Processing fees only** — Removes card processing fees (common after cash or check payment).
    * **Full balance** — Credits everything still owed on the invoice.
    * **Custom amount** — Enter a specific dollar amount (cannot exceed the balance).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the credit note">
    Click **Issue credit note**.

    **Expected result:** The amount due drops. Resend the invoice if the customer needs to see the new balance—see [Send and collect customer payments](/docs/payments/send-and-collect-customer-payments).
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/65OxqKrCpk0fG4Bx/images/payments/issue-credit-note-dialog-fresh.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=65OxqKrCpk0fG4Bx&q=85&s=e92f3e0906ce7d53edc0454a37971ec4" alt="Issue credit note dialog showing Processing fees only, Full balance, and Custom amount options" width="1196" height="720" data-path="images/payments/issue-credit-note-dialog-fresh.webp" />
</Frame>

***Processing fees only** is common after you recorded cash or check payment.*

<Note>
  **Credit note vs account credit**

  **Issue credit note** applies to **this invoice**. A separate **Issue credit** tool on the customer's [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts) record adds money to their **account balance** for future invoices. Ask your manager which one your facility uses.
</Note>

## Edit a finalized invoice (void and recreate)

Use **Edit invoice** when line items, quantities, or descriptions need to change and you want a **new draft** built from the current bill.

**Important:** The system **voids** the current invoice and **creates a new draft** you must review and finalize again.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Actions and choose Edit invoice">
    On an **Open** invoice, click **Actions**, then **Edit invoice**.

    **Expected result:** A window titled **Edit finalized invoice?** explains the old invoice will be voided.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Confirm">
    Add an optional void reason, then click **Confirm**.

    **Expected result:** You land on a **new Draft** invoice. The old invoice status becomes **Void**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fix the draft and finalize again">
    Update line items and totals. Click **Finalize invoice**, then resend so the customer gets the corrected bill.

    **Expected result:** A new **Open** invoice replaces the voided one.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ/images/payments/edit-invoice-warning-fresh.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=Qb2HfPrid60OUNfQ&q=85&s=23436e740e893449bca649c22e06f60c" alt="Edit finalized invoice confirmation explaining the current invoice will be voided and a new draft created" width="1280" height="800" data-path="images/payments/edit-invoice-warning-fresh.webp" />
</Frame>

*Editing always voids the old invoice first. Plan to finalize and resend the corrected draft.*

<Tip>
  **Tell the customer when you void and reissue**

  If the customer already has the old email, send the new invoice or explain that the previous link is no longer valid. This prevents double-payment confusion.
</Tip>

## Common mistakes to avoid

* Do not void an invoice the customer already paid without manager approval.
* Do not create a second open invoice for the same job without voiding or crediting the first one—customers may pay twice.
* Do not skip telling the customer when voiding and sending a replacement bill.
* Do not use **Issue credit note** when you meant to void the entire invoice.

## Troubleshooting

<Warning>
  **I do not see Void invoice or Issue credit note**

  These options appear on **Open** customer invoices. **Draft** invoices use **Delete draft** or **Finalize invoice**. **Paid** invoices only allow actions such as **Resend receipt**. See [Review a customer invoice](/docs/payments/review-a-customer-invoice).
</Warning>

<Warning>
  **Customer paid the wrong (voided) link**

  Stop and contact your billing manager immediately. They can help trace the payment in **Payments & transactions** on the invoice.
</Warning>

<Tip>
  **Should I void or edit?**

  If only the **amount or line items** are wrong and the customer still owes money, **Edit invoice** is usually faster. If the bill should **not exist at all**, **Void invoice** is cleaner.
</Tip>

## What to do next

* Invoice is correct and unpaid → [Send and collect customer payments](/docs/payments/send-and-collect-customer-payments)
* Need a brand-new bill → [Create an invoice](/docs/payments/create-an-invoice)
* Month-end totals → [Review the Invoices Report](/docs/payments/review-the-invoices-report)


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.