SAP FBRA — Reset Cleared Items
In SAP, an open item is one that is still outstanding: an unpaid invoice, an unallocated payment. When a payment is matched to an invoice, both are cleared and each carries the other clearing document number.
FBRA breaks that link. Both documents remain posted and untouched; they simply become open items again, as if the match had never been made.
Beginners confuse this with reversal constantly. Reversal (FB08) cancels the accounting effect of a document. Reset clearing (FBRA) does not change a single figure — it only says "these two are no longer considered settled against each other".
When you would actually use FBRA
- A payment was allocated to the wrong invoice and needs re-matching.
- You need to reverse an invoice that has already been paid — FBRA first, then FB08.
- An automatic payment run cleared items it should not have.
- A customer receipt was applied to the wrong open item.
What the screen looks like
The fields, in plain English
BSEG-AUGBLThe document that performed the clearing — typically the payment document, not the invoice. You will find it in the "Clearing doc." column when you look at the invoice in FB03 or FBL1N.
Watch out: This is the number one mistake with FBRA. Entering the invoice number gives "document is not a clearing document".
BKPF-BUKRSThe entity the clearing document belongs to. Must match the clearing document, not the invoice, if they somehow differ.
Step by step
- 1Find the clearing document number: open the invoice in FB03 and read the "Clearing doc." column.
- 2Enter that number with company code and fiscal year in FBRA.
- 3Press Enter. SAP lists the items that will be reset.
- 4Choose Reset to unclear only, or "Resetting and reversal" to unclear AND reverse the clearing document in one step.Plain Reset is the safer default — it leaves the payment posted and open.
- 5Confirm. Both documents are now open items again.
- 6Verify in FBL1N with the "Open items" radio button that the invoice reappears.
Errors you will hit, and what they mean
F5 073 — Document 1800000123 is not a clearing document
Why: You entered the invoice number instead of the payment number.
Fix: Open the invoice in FB03, read the Clearing Document field, and use that number instead.
FBRA is greyed out / no authorisation
Why: Resetting clearing is a sensitive action and is often restricted to a small group.
Fix: This is usually intentional. Route the request through whoever owns AP or AR rather than asking for the authorisation yourself.
Clearing was performed by a payment run; reset with caution
Why: The clearing came from F110, so a payment medium may already have gone to the bank.
Fix: Check whether the payment file was actually transmitted before resetting. Un-clearing an invoice whose money has already left the building creates a reconciliation problem, not a solution.
Common questions
Does FBRA reverse the payment?
Not by itself. Plain Reset leaves the payment document posted and turns it back into an open item. Choosing "Resetting and reversal" additionally reverses the clearing document. Pick deliberately.
Why can I not just reverse the invoice directly?
Because it is cleared. FB08 refuses with FF 709 while a clearing exists, since reversing would leave the payment matched to nothing. FBRA first, FB08 second.
Is there an audit trail for resetting clearing?
Yes. The reset is recorded and the documents retain their history, so an auditor can see the clearing was made and later undone.
Transactions that go with FBRA
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