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Accounting standards globally (IFRS, US GAAP, ASPE and similar frameworks) require accurate maintenance of source document data and proper period recognition. The invoice date (document date) and posting date (accounting period date) serve different purposes and must be separate.

When a prior period is closed and a backdated invoice is entered later, the system forces the invoice date to be changed to the posting date. This results in:
• Recording an incorrect document date
• Compromising audit trail integrity
• Distorting vendor history and aging

A standard audit cut-off procedure (under ISA and PCAOB standards) is to identify invoices dated on or before period-end but recorded after period-end.

Without separate fields:
• This query cannot be performed systemically
• Auditors cannot rely on system-generated reports
• Manual testing increases
• Control reliance decreases

Separate invoice and posting dates are fundamental for:
• Accurate recordkeeping
• Proper audit cut-off testing
• Reliable internal controls

This is a core accounting system requirement, not an enhancement.

This is absolutely an essential feature. Especially needed across different financial years. It is very common for a late invoice to arrive and we often find ourselves in a new period (or year) with the prior period already being finalised and presented. Having to falsely record invoices at a later date is not good accounting but we are often left stuck. In my 20 years of experience, across many different finance systems, this is the first to not have the functionality.

It is clear from the last update from Xero admin that Xero have no idea why this is so important.

This idea does not have enough votes to make Xero interested, you would think that this would be an essential feature for every user and it would have far more votes and comments

Keen to understand when, if ever, there will be traction on this? It is basic accounting functionality and clearly a key requirement for many of Xero's clients. There have been no updates since Feb 2024, which is disappointing

I am new to using Xero but have used many different systems over the last 25 years and I cannot believe there is no function for a separate tax date to invoice date instead my staff are changing the invoice date to be able to post invoices after period closed. I am sure this would get us in to lots of trouble with HMRC if they were to pick up on this.
Xero would not be my first choice at this point

I still do not understand why this is not being worked on, it is a very standard function that has been available in every other accounting software I have used over the past two decades.

This idea is one of the most requested and was first raised almost 4 years ago and is something that I come back to check on very regularly as other must also do.

What else needs to be done before this is actioned.

Agree with everyone's comments here - this is very important for correct recording of supplier invoice dates. Without it we have to redate supplier invoices to 1st of the current accounting month. It would also help with allocating credits to invoices where currently we have to reopen an old period - all of the allocations would be current period so you can leave the lock date unchanged

Hi there, there's another thread that supports this request, which would be worth referring to because it has lots of votes and extra comments. Thanks!

Please see: https://productideas.xero.com/forums/939198-for-small-businesses/suggestions/44988538-invoices-bills-separate-field-for-posting-date-a

This has recently come up in our audit findings that we cannot accurately report the invoice date. We use approval max and when the period is locked it automatically changes the invoice date to the 1st of the month and deletes the invoice date. Surely a relatively straight forward change for Xero

Implement accounting periods rather than running from transaction dates. We have to close the period for management accounts by day 7 but there will be supplier invoices or expenses appearing after that date. Currently we have to manually amend the date on posting to be the first date of the open period. If accounting periods were implemented, we would be able to allow a late transaction through in the current open period rather than amending the transaction date.

We were shocked this was missing when we started using Xero. We're now looking into options for alternative accounting software because this functionality isn't included, as it's a crucial requirement for us.

We really appreciate Xero’s simplicity and intuitive design for managing our business finances. However, there are two features that would significantly improve accuracy and efficiency for many businesses:

Sales Order Functionality – Having a dedicated Sales Order module before invoicing would help track confirmed customer orders, manage partial deliveries, and monitor backorders without impacting revenue recognition until the invoice stage.

Separate Posting Date Field – Currently, the Invoice Date is also treated as the posting date in reports. Having a dedicated Posting Date field would allow businesses to comply with accounting policies where document date and posting date differ (for example, when recognizing revenue in a different reporting period from the invoice date). This is standard in many ERP systems and would enhance accuracy in financial reporting.

These additions would not only improve compliance with accounting standards but also help companies better manage their sales and posting timelines without manual workarounds.

Why are you working on "nice to have" features such as bulk void and highlighting rows if selected, when separate fields for the invoice and posting date are critical for accountants. Please look at other software and SAP and speak to consultants who are actual accountants.

Yes, this is 100% a needed feature, as many others have said when receiving late invoices, it is impossible to record them with any degree of accuracy/matching.

Agree that this is a basic accounting feature and should be considered as an enhancement by Xero. The inefficiencies/ extra work created by lack of this functionality should not exist and doesn't align with best accounting practice.

Also see 'Lock Dates - Allow old bills/invoices to fall into current accounting period' which has a number of recent votes and comments for the same issue.

Would like to see a development/ enhancement by Xero to rectify this issue as it is difficult to see how this functionality works with a scaling business.

I'm a new user to Xero and I'm quite shocked this isn't a feature. This is basic accounting for the common situation that an invoice is received later than it's date or can't be processed until the following month. If we have closed the January period, we should have the ability to post a January dated invoice in February and be able to keep the "invoice date" as the correct invoice date, and have a subsequent additional "posting date" of within February. This invoice would be posted through Xero in February with the reports being able to note both the posting date and invoice date.
Please sort this as a huge priority!!

This feature to me is critical, otherwise I don't understand how the month end process can be properly run. When doing month end reports we effectively need to "lock" in the current period (e.g. July) and avoid making amendments to July in the future, because the numbers have already been shared with management.

But for example if we receive an invoice late (e.g. September) that relates to July, the only option now is put one date in Xero (which would be the invoice date) but that also means the invoice will be posted back in July and therefore changing the numbers previously reported.

All the systems I have worked with allowed an "invoice date" and a "posted date" to be separate fields.

I know that periods can be locked, but that September invoice will then need to be posted with a 1/9/25 date rather than its correct July date, which will skew other reporting.

No update after 2022. Most of the accounting system will have posting and invoice date as different field. Invoice date is important for transaction searching and audit purpose to identify transaction in particular period. Because of the current restriction and we have strict period cut off and lock the previous financial month, we end up need to change invoice date to current period for posting in Xero. Xero support please update the status of this request. Is there any other premium module that we can have this feature available?

This is a critical management and audit tool. It would allow late invoices to be easily identified during audit. Management accounts produced at say, 31st March, may well differ from Xero reports run at audit dates, which may be several months after year end.

Hi, with regards to having a separate field for the posting date and invoice date, it is primarily to recognise a cost/expense in the month it is posted whilst still being able to post it with the correct supplier invoice date as this affects payment in line with due dates. This is because we sometimes receive late invoices from suppliers, for example, we may receive a cleaning invoice on the 14/07/25 but the invoice is dated 30/06/25 and is for cleaning services in June. Currently Xero only allows us to process this under a July date if we have locked the dates down, but we need to be able to process this with a correct invoice date of 30/06/25 but a posting date of 14/07/25, so the cost is recognised in July rather than June. This may be different for some businesses but for this one, we have already reported on the June management accounts and cannot make any changes/adjustments to them, hence why we have to recognise the cost in July. Hope this all makes sense!