# Write-off: the document and write-off with a barcode scanner URL: https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/inventory/write-off/ Updated: 2026-11-06 > Write-off is a document that reduces warehouse balances because of damage, loss, internal use or shortage. Create it under **Warehouse → Write-off**, choose an expense item, add goods with the quantity and warehouse, and save. A faster way is scanner write-off under **Warehouse → Operations**: scan the employee's barcode, then the goods, and the document is created automatically. ## When you need a Write-off The "Write-off" document reduces the warehouse balance when goods have left the records: damaged, lost, used for the company's internal needs or not found during a [stock count](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/inventory/stock-count/). Analyzing write-offs helps you find the causes of losses and respond to them in time. How all warehouse documents fit together is shown in the [inventory overview](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/inventory/inventory-overview/). How [price rounding and the write-off amount](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/pricing/price-rounding/) are calculated is described separately. If materials must be charged to the cost price of a specific order, see [Write-off to cost price](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/inventory/write-off-to-cost/). ## How to create a Write-off document There are four ways: 1. **[Warehouse](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/inventory/warehouses/) → Write-off → Create.** 2. **Warehouse → Other documents → Create → Write-off.** 3. From a stock count: in the **Warehouse** section on the **Stock counts** tab, hover over the document and choose **Write-off** in the context menu. 4. Open the stock count and in the "Create based on" menu choose **Write-off**. > [!WARNING] You can create a Write-off [based on](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/basics/create-based-on/) a stock count only while its status is "New". ## How to fill in the document 1. Leave "Document number" empty for automatic numbering; "Creation date" is set automatically. 2. Choose the "Expense item". The default item is "Write-off". The directory is described in [Income and expense items](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/getting-started/income-and-expense-items/). 3. In the "Responsible person" field, choose an employee. 4. If needed, choose the "[Customer order](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/sales/customer-order/)" that the write-off is made for. For a document created from a stock count, the "Base document" field is filled in by the system and cannot be edited. 5. On the "Goods, services" tab, click **Add** and choose a product. 6. Specify the "Quantity". The "Cost price" is taken from the product card. 7. Choose the "Warehouse", "Line of business" and "Project". Starting with release 118, if the main warehouse, line of business and project are set in the profile or company, they are filled into the first row, and each following row copies them from the previous one. 8. Save the document. ![The "Write-off" document: on the left "Document number", "Creation date", "Expense item" (Electricity), "Responsible person", "Customer order" (No. 320 dated 03.01.2025); on the "Goods, services" tab a row with quantity 1, cost price 0, warehouse, line of business and project](https://bimpsoft.com/help/_img/6f9276c3-9c27-4b06-af37-b6a4f70aa4ac.webp) ## How to write off stock with a barcode scanner Scanner write-off creates a "Write-off" document without a mouse or keyboard. 1. In the employee card, in the "Payroll" section, specify the "Barcode": enter it manually or generate it with the button. 2. Open **Warehouse → Operations**. The main warehouse is filled in. 3. Scan the employee's barcode (or enter it manually): the system identifies who is performing the operation. 4. Scan the product barcodes. Scanning the same product again increases the quantity. [Variants](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/products/variants/) are supported; for a product that is not in the warehouse, the system shows a message. 5. To end the session, scan the employee's barcode once more. A "Write-off" document is created. ![The "Operations" tab of the "Warehouse" section: the "Barcode" field, the warehouse "Main Warehouse" and a table of scanned items "Unicorn white", "ToyToy.store booklet", "Avocado", "Pink shark" with quantity and unit of measure](https://bimpsoft.com/help/_img/18e415f7-7924-459d-88c6-688ba0e6becc.webp) ![The "Operations" tab after the session ends: the message "Write-off: Recorded! Document "Write-off No. 12 dated 24.09.2025" created successfully" and the row "Avocado" with quantity 1 pcs](https://bimpsoft.com/help/_img/49645379-6260-40bc-b910-cc616c4c514b.webp) > [!WARNING] If you do not end the session by scanning the employee's barcode again and go to another section instead, the session is reset and the data is not saved. In the created document, the "Responsible manager" field contains the employee whose barcode was scanned, and the "Author" field contains the user from whose account the document was created. Goods that are in the warehouse are written off automatically; if some are missing, the shortage quantity is recorded in the "Comment". The document is visible both under **Warehouse → Write-off** and in "Other documents". ## FAQ **Why is a Write-off not created based on a stock count?** A Write-off based on a stock count is available only for documents with the status "New". If the stock count has already been approved or completed, you cannot create a Write-off based on it. **What happens if I scan more than is in the warehouse?** The available quantity is written off, and the shortage goes into the document's "Comment" field. For example, the warehouse has 3 units and 4 were scanned: 3 are written off, and 1 is shown in the comment as a shortage. **Why did the scanned goods disappear?** The scanning session ends when you scan the employee's barcode again. If you go to another section without doing that, the session is reset and the data is not saved. **Are services written off when scanning?** No. If you scan a service barcode, it is not added, because it is not a product.