---
title: "Credit notes and corrective invoices"
description: "How to correct an issued invoice with a credit note or a corrective (replacement) invoice"
url: https://docs.starnapp.com/en/articles/177-credit-notes-and-corrective-invoices
updated: 2026-11-04
language: en
alternates: [es]
---

# Credit notes and corrective invoices

How to correct an issued invoice with a credit note or a corrective (replacement) invoice

In StarNapp, **an issued invoice can never be edited or deleted** — this rule applies in every country. That's why any correction to an issued invoice is made by generating a **corrective invoice** or a **credit note**, never by editing the original document (see [**Invoices**](gleap://article/6a9024169f2bbf7392b37b71)).

If your company has its tax domicile in Spain, also keep in mind [**Verifactu**](gleap://article/68e3af584e3a0af70a8e8d52) fiscal reporting: these corrections must be reported just like any other invoice — see **Verifactu (Spain)**.

**Corrective invoice** — a _replacement invoice_: it fully replaces the original invoice. We use it to correct substantive errors (a wrong price, VAT applied incorrectly, wrong customer details) or to cancel an invoice completely.

**Credit note** — a corrective invoice **with negative amounts** that **offsets** the original invoice, without replacing or cancelling it. We use it for product returns, commercial rebates, or correcting amounts overcharged. It can be **full** (covers 100% of the original amount) or **partial** (covers only part of it).

### How do we get there?

1.  We'll open the **incorrect invoice**.
    
2.  We'll click **CONVERT** (top right).
    

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/hgFbUE9jucIetgwqvMBUyhuIxW0p6Kd9Zz1Jn1GdGydHXsDmhwMtqy160Yjsd6NiJAk1RWsVDbT.png)

1.  A pop-up opens where we'll choose:
    

-   The **invoice type**: Corrective or Credit note.
    
-   The format: Detailed or summarised in a single line.
    
-   Whether we want to **carry over the notes** from the original invoice.
    

1.  We'll confirm the action.
    

### How does a credit note work?

-   The system creates a **copy of the original invoice with negative amounts**.
    
-   The invoice is generated in **draft** state, so we can still edit it (for example, if the credit note is partial).
    
-   The title updates automatically: _"Corrective invoice for differences (Credit note) | FCT-XXX"_.
    

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/qZhdAKVboQ33pkMHvF3nnNKTltfxEm6sMwlZp59VAOz4qo3Lixql5r9Xuzu7RglxcKmIjwdhgnC.png)

**Result:** the original invoice is **not cancelled**. Both invoices offset each other: the final balance is 0 if the credit note is full, or adjusted if it's partial.

### How does a corrective invoice work?

-   It's created through the same process, but the amounts appear as **positive** figures.
    
-   The system automatically updates the title: _"Substitute corrective invoice | FCT-XXX"_.
    
-   And the notes: _"This invoice is a corrective invoice that replaces the original invoice FCT-XXX"_.
    

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/bRmbWhTxslcvU1IapygXmha7hz2zKAWnyTDWKAMEqAjlyZhZlQUfYfHNEManvFSoUGXpMrz3TBM.png)

**Result:** the original invoice becomes **cancelled** and the new invoice becomes the valid one.

![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/elgTR9peQVCSPt2qcVW2w9DNdOXnk24ZZV4wUXNCONUrs3YiB81c0zcnIXsJCOZQS5e2Qq9FUaz.png)

> ℹ Cancelled invoices don't affect the customer's account statement.

### What should we keep in mind?

-   **Never create a corrective invoice with negative amounts** — that is, by definition, a credit note. Mixing the two concepts unbalances the accounts, because a corrective invoice cancels the original and a credit note doesn't.
    
-   A credit note can be full (covers 100% of the amount) or partial (covers only part of it) — in both cases it's created in draft, so we can adjust the amount before issuing it.
    
-   This mechanism exists because an issued invoice can never be edited or deleted — see [**Invoices**](gleap://article/6a9024169f2bbf7392b37b71). If your company invoices from Spain, these corrections are also reported through Verifactu — see **Verifactu (Spain)**.