# Purchase returns and debit notes

> Send goods back or reduce a supplier bill with a purchase return, confirm it to reverse cost and input tax, and record the supplier's refund.

Canonical: https://docs.getonebooks.com/purchases/purchase-returns/
Language: en
Documentation index: https://docs.getonebooks.com/llms.txt

A purchase return — printed as a **debit note** — reduces what you owe a supplier after a purchase was finalized. Confirming it reverses the cost and the input tax; the supplier's refund, if any, is recorded separately.

![The Purchase Returns list](https://docs.getonebooks.com/screenshots/en/purchases-returns-list.webp)

## Create and confirm

1. Open **Purchasing → Purchase Returns** and select **Create Return**.
2. Pick the **supplier** and, optionally, the **original purchase** to pull its lines.
3. Adjust the **lines** (item or description, quantity, unit price, tax) and enter a **reason**.
4. **Save as Draft** or **Save & Confirm**.

![The Create Purchase Return form](https://docs.getonebooks.com/screenshots/en/purchases-return-new.webp)

Rules: confirmed returns against one purchase cannot exceed the purchase total, and returns cannot be raised against a **Void** purchase.

> **Accounting effect**
> Debit **2000 Accounts Payable** (total) · Credit **1300 VAT Receivable** (tax) · Credit **5000 Cost of Goods Sold** (net). A discount on the original purchase is reversed with a debit to **4300 Discount Received**.

## Refund or keep the credit

![A confirmed debit note with the Refund action](https://docs.getonebooks.com/screenshots/en/purchases-return-detail.webp)

- **Refund** — when the supplier pays you back, select **Refund** and enter amount, date, method and the account the money came into. Debit **1200 Cash** / **1210 Bank**, Credit **2000 Accounts Payable**.
- Otherwise the credit stays on the supplier and is offered when you next record a supplier payment.

## Statuses

**Draft** → **Confirmed** → **Partially Refunded** → **Refunded**; **Void** reverses a confirmed return (permission **purchaseReturns.void**).

## Related

  - [Sales returns and credit notes](https://docs.getonebooks.com/sales/sales-returns/)
  - [Supplier payments](https://docs.getonebooks.com/purchases/supplier-payments/)