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How to Write Off Accounts Payable in Xero

Updated on:
June 5, 2026
By:
Madhav Bhandari
Use this interactive demo to learn how to write off an accounts payable bill using a credit note.

Quick summary

Writing off accounts payable in Xero involves creating a credit note against an outstanding bill to clear it from your books. This step-by-step process is completed entirely within Xero's Bills to Pay section using the Bill Options menu.


Steps

  1. On Xero's main dashboard, navigate to the top menu bar and click 'Business'.
  2. Choose 'Bills to Pay' from the list of options.
  3. Browse your bills list and select the specific accounts payable you want to write off.
  4. Tap 'Bill Options' in the top-right corner of the bill view.
  5. Click 'Add Credit Note' from the dropdown menu.
  6. Review the credit note details, then click 'Approve' or 'Save' to confirm.
  7. The selected accounts payable will be written off instantly from your bills.

📌 Why this matters

Writing off uncollectable or forgiven accounts payable is a critical bookkeeping task that keeps your financial records accurate and your balance sheet clean. Xero makes this process straightforward by allowing users to create a credit note directly against an outstanding bill, eliminating manual journal entries. This feature is especially valuable for small business owners and accountants who need to reconcile old or disputed payables quickly. Keeping accounts payable up to date in Xero ensures your cash flow reporting and tax filings reflect the true state of your business finances.
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