How To Fix FH166 - Change to group account number in spite of postings

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: FH - General ledger module messages

• Message number: 166

• Message text: Change to group account number in spite of postings

What causes this issue?

You have changed the group account number from &V1& to &V2&.
The G/L account has already been posted to; that is, data records in
group account number &V1& have already been updated in at least one of
the company codes that is assigned to the chart of accounts. The
current account balance is however zero in all company codes.

System Response

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

How to fix this error?

Check your entry.
INCLUDE 'CUSTOMIZED_MESSAGE_INFO' OBJECT DOKU ID TX LANGUAGE EN

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message FH166 - Change to group account number in spite of postings ?

  The SAP error message FH166 ("Change to group account number in spite of postings") typically occurs when there is an attempt to change the group account number of a G/L account that has already been posted to. This is a safeguard mechanism in SAP to prevent inconsistencies in financial reporting and data integrity.
  Cause:
  The error arises when:
  
  You attempt to change the group account number of a G/L account that has already been used in postings.
  The system detects that there are existing transactions linked to the account, which would be affected by the change.
  
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can consider the following approaches:
  
  
  Check for Postings: 
  
  Review the G/L account to see if there are any postings. You can use transaction codes like FB03 (Display Document) or FBL3N (G/L Account Line Item Display) to check for any existing transactions.
  
  
  
  Reclassify Transactions:
  
  If there are postings, you may need to reclassify or reverse those transactions before changing the group account number. This can involve creating new entries or adjusting existing ones.
  
  
  
  Use a New G/L Account:
  
  If changing the group account number is essential, consider creating a new G/L account with the desired group account number and then transferring the balances from the old account to the new one.
  
  
  
  Consult with Finance Team:
  
  Engage with your finance or accounting team to understand the implications of changing the group account number and to ensure compliance with accounting standards and practices.
  
  
  
  Authorization:
  
  Ensure that you have the necessary authorizations to make changes to G/L accounts. Sometimes, restrictions are in place to prevent unauthorized changes.
  
  
  
  SAP Notes:
  
  Check for any relevant SAP Notes or documentation that may provide additional insights or solutions specific to your version of SAP.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with transaction codes like OBY6 (for G/L account settings) and FS00 (for G/L account master data) to manage G/L accounts effectively.
  Documentation: Review SAP documentation or help files related to G/L account management for best practices and guidelines.
  Testing: If possible, test changes in a development or sandbox environment before applying them in the production system to avoid disruptions.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to address the FH166 error and manage your G/L accounts effectively.