How To Fix F=164 - Clearing group &1: Total amount &2 &3 of clearing costs is negative

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: F= -

• Message number: 164

• Message text: Clearing group &1: Total amount &2 &3 of clearing costs is negative

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message F=164 - Clearing group &1: Total amount &2 &3 of clearing costs is negative ?

  The SAP error message F=164 indicates that there is an issue with the clearing group in the financial module, specifically related to clearing costs. The message states that the total amount of clearing costs is negative, which is not acceptable in the context of the transaction being processed.
  Cause:
  
  
  Negative Clearing Costs: The primary cause of this error is that the total amount of clearing costs for the specified clearing group is negative. This can happen due to incorrect postings, such as:
  
  Incorrectly entered amounts in the clearing document.
  Manual adjustments that resulted in a negative total.
  Data entry errors or misconfigurations in the clearing group settings.
  
  
  
  Configuration Issues: There may be issues with the configuration of the clearing group in the system, leading to incorrect calculations of clearing costs.
  
  
  Posting Errors: If there are prior postings that have not been cleared correctly, it can lead to discrepancies in the clearing costs.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Review Clearing Document: Check the clearing document associated with the clearing group. Ensure that all amounts are correctly entered and that there are no negative postings that should not exist.
  
  
  Adjust Entries: If you find any incorrect entries, make the necessary adjustments to correct the amounts. This may involve reversing incorrect postings or making additional entries to balance the amounts.
  
  
  Check Configuration: Review the configuration settings for the clearing group in the SAP system. Ensure that all settings are correct and that there are no misconfigurations that could lead to negative clearing costs.
  
  
  Consult with Finance Team: If you are unsure about the entries or the configuration, consult with your finance team or SAP support to get assistance in resolving the issue.
  
  
  Run Reports: Use SAP reports to analyze the clearing costs and identify any discrepancies. Reports can help you trace back to the source of the negative amounts.
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as FB03 (Display Document), FBL1N (Vendor Line Item Display), and FBL3N (G/L Account Line Item Display) to investigate the entries related to the clearing group.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes for any known issues or patches related to this error message. SAP frequently updates its knowledge base with solutions for common problems.
  Documentation: Review SAP documentation related to financial accounting and clearing processes to understand the expected behavior and configurations.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to identify the cause of the error and implement a solution to resolve it.