How To Fix WB2B179 - Expense documents exist for document &1. Deletion not possible

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WB2B - Trading Contract

• Message number: 179

• Message text: Expense documents exist for document &1. Deletion not possible

What causes this issue?

Expense documents (supplier billing documents) already exist for this
document. This can be seen in the document flow.

System Response

The system does not delete the document.

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

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message WB2B179 - Expense documents exist for document &1. Deletion not possible ?

  The SAP error message WB2B179 indicates that there are expense documents associated with a specific document (denoted by &1) that prevent its deletion. This typically occurs in the context of financial documents, such as purchase orders, invoices, or other transactional records that have linked expense entries.
  Cause:
  The primary cause of this error is that the document you are trying to delete has related expense documents that are still active or have not been processed completely. These related documents could be expense reports, invoices, or other financial entries that reference the document in question.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can follow these steps:
  
  
  Identify Related Documents:
  
  Use transaction codes like FB03 (Display Document) or FBV3 (Display Parked Document) to view the document in question and check for any related expense documents.
  You can also use transaction SE16N to query the relevant tables (like BKPF for accounting documents) to find linked entries.
  
  
  
  Review Expense Documents:
  
  Once you identify the related expense documents, review their status. If they are still in a draft or parked state, you may need to either complete or delete them first.
  
  
  
  Delete or Adjust Related Documents:
  
  If the related expense documents are no longer needed, you can delete them. Ensure that you have the necessary authorizations to perform deletions.
  If the documents are valid but need adjustments, make the necessary changes to resolve any discrepancies.
  
  
  
  Retry Deletion:
  
  After addressing the related expense documents, attempt to delete the original document again.
  
  
  
  Consult with Finance Team:
  
  If you are unsure about the implications of deleting certain documents, consult with your finance or accounting team to ensure compliance with internal policies and regulations.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Familiarize yourself with relevant transaction codes such as FB03, FBV3, SE16N, and others that may help in navigating and managing financial documents.
  Authorization: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to view and delete financial documents in SAP.
  Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or your organization's SAP user manuals for specific procedures related to document management and deletion.
  
  If the issue persists after following these steps, it may be beneficial to consult with your SAP support team or a technical consultant for further assistance.