Lesson 8 of 8 · 2 min

Closing a month: the lock date

Once a month is checked, lock it: nothing dated on or before the lock date can be added, changed or voided.

  1. When a month is done and checked, Kamran, your accountant, sets the lock date: nothing dated on or before it can be added, changed or voided by anyone, so the figures you filed stay the figures in your books.
  2. Settings → Books

    It's in Settings → Books, under Lock date (Locked up to), beside the financial year and the day your books start. It can't be in the future; clear it to open everything again.
  3. Try to void a July invoice and Ledger refuses: the books are locked up to 31 August, so ask whoever keeps your books to move the lock date first. If something really must change, they move it back, make the change, and move it forward again.

Try it

Opens Ledger. You'll be asked to sign in first; new businesses get a free week, no card needed.

Set your lock date

Quick check

One quick question. Pick an answer and Leo will tell you how you did.

1. The lock date is 31 August. Can you enter an expense dated 31 August?

Try it in Ledger, free for a week

Every lesson's Try it opens the real page, with Leo pointing the way.

Free for the first week · no card to start · Rs 1,500 a month afterFree for the first week · no card to start · £5 a month afterFree for the first week · no card to start · $6 a month after