How to Open Accounting Periods in SAP

The SAP accounting software system allows for 16 posting periods. Twelve of those posting periods are assigned to the 12 months in the fiscal year. The other four periods are called special periods. In SAP, only the current posting period is open. You can open past or future periods if you have certain authorizations. SAP also allows you to go back to previous years. With just a few clicks of the mouse, you can open posting periods in SAP.

Instructions

1. Log into SAP as an authorized user. If your log in isn't listed in the group that has authorization to open previous account periods, then you won't be able to. Ask the administrator for access, if you aren't the administrator or have the required authorizations.

2. Click on "Financial Accounting (New)" and then "Financial Accounting Global Settings (New)." If you want to open only certain accounts, such as accounts receivable, set these parameters in the Financial Accounting Global Settings area.

3. Click on "Ledgers" and then "Fiscal Year and Posting Period." Point the mouse to "Posting Periods" and then enter in the variants for the posting period that you want to open. Click on "Open and Close Posting Periods."

References

• SAP Help: Opening and Closing Posting Periods
• SAP IMG: Profit and Loss Closing Tcodes