Lock dates
On this page
Once a month, quarter or year is closed, lock it so nobody posts into it by mistake. Accounting - United Arab Emirates has three locks: the lock date, the hard lock date and the VAT period lock.
The three locks#
| Lock | Where you set it | What it blocks | Can it move back? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lock date | Settings tab | Posting or changing any entry dated on or before it. | Yes. You can move it or clear it. |
| Hard lock date | Settings tab | Posting or changing any entry dated on or before it, for everyone, with no override. | No. It can only move forward. |
| VAT period lock | VAT return report | Posting entries with VAT dated on or before it. | No. It can only move forward. |
Set the lock date#
Use the lock date when you close a month and want to keep it safe, but may still need to reopen it.
- Open AccountingSettings.
- Pick the Lock date.
- Click Save settings.
Nobody can post or change entries dated on or before this day. To reopen the period, pick an earlier date or click Clear, then save.
The Overview tab shows the current lock date, or None when all periods are open.
Set the hard lock date#
Use the hard lock date for periods that are final, for example after your year-end accounts are signed off.
- Post or delete every draft entry dated on or before the day you want to lock. Kartlo will not set the hard lock while such drafts exist.
- Open AccountingSettings.
- Pick the Hard lock date.
- Click Save settings.
Close a VAT period#
After you file a VAT return, close the VAT period so the figures you filed cannot change.
- Open AccountingReportsVAT return (UAE VAT201).
- Pick the period you filed.
- Click Close VAT period.
- Read the message and click Close period.
Entries that touch VAT dated on or before the end of that period can no longer be posted. Entries without VAT are not affected. The report shows VAT period closed up to with the date.
Fiscal year end#
Set when your financial year ends under AccountingSettings, with Fiscal year ends in (the month) and Day of month. Then click Save settings.
Kartlo uses it for the fiscal quarter buttons in the VAT return when your year does not end with a calendar quarter.
What happens when you post into a locked period#
Kartlo refuses an entry you post yourself and tells you up to which date the books are locked. Change the entry date to a day after the lock and post again.
Entries created by auto-posting (orders, payments, refunds, stock, supplier bills and expenses) are not refused. When their date falls on or before the lock date or the hard lock date, they are posted on the first open day after it. Entries with VAT also move past the VAT period lock. The original date is kept in the entry: the reference ends with (dated ...) and the notes say which day it came from. Invoices keep their original invoice date.