# Receivables and payables: how they arise and are closed

URL: https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/finance/receivables-and-payables/
Updated: 2026-11-06

> Bimp creates debts automatically: a customer's debt arises when a "Sales of goods and services" document is posted, and the debt to a supplier arises when a "Goods receipt" is posted. To close a debt, create an incoming or outgoing payment and link it to an order or document. Monitor debts in the "Settlements" report.

## What receivables and payables are in Bimp

Receivables are a customer's debt to your company; payables are your debt to a supplier. Bimp creates them automatically from source documents, so you do not need to enter them manually.

| Debt | When it arises | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Receivables (customer's debt) | goods were shipped or a service was provided to the customer | "[Sales of goods and services](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/sales/shipment/)" (sale) |
| Payables (your debt) | goods or a service from a supplier were accepted | "[Goods receipt](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/purchasing/goods-receipt/)" |

## How to close a debt

To zero out receivables or payables, create a payment, either incoming (a customer payment) or outgoing (a supplier payment), and be sure to link it to an order or to a shipment or receipt document. For details, see [Customer payment](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/sales/customer-payment/) and [Supplier payment](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/purchasing/supplier-payment/). Payments from a bank statement are linked during allocation: see [Allocating bank statement transactions](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/finance/bank-statement-processing/).

If no money moves, a debt is closed with a "Debt adjustment" document: [Debt adjustments](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/finance/debt-adjustments/).

## Where to monitor debts

You can see debts in three places:

1. **The "Settlements" report** is the main tool: the balance for each counterparty. It opens in **Reports → Settlements** (with suppliers or with customers): see [Settlements with counterparties](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/reports/settlements-report/).
2. **The [counterparty card](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/counterparties/counterparty-card/)**: **Counterparties →** the needed counterparty: information about them and their accounts.
3. **The dashboard**: widgets with the total receivables and payables for quick monitoring.

> [!TIP] Check the "Settlements" report regularly to spot overdue payments in time. Overdue customer debt is shown by a separate report: [Settlements with customers](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/reports/customer-settlements-report/).

## FAQ

**When do receivables arise in Bimp?**

When a "Sales of goods and services" document is posted: the goods are written off the warehouse to the customer, and the system records their debt to you.

**When do payables arise?**

When a "Goods receipt" document is posted: the goods or service are accepted onto the balance, and your debt to the counterparty is recorded.

**How do I close a debt without moving money?**

With a "Debt adjustment" document: netting, write-off, assignment or offsetting of advances. See the article "Debt adjustments".

**Where can I see the total receivables and payables?**

The dashboard has widgets with the total amounts; the detailed balance for each counterparty is in the "Settlements" report.