# How to close the month in accounts payable in Sage 50

In Sage 50, enter and approve all purchase invoice records dated in the month, accrue goods received, reconcile the Aged Creditors to the ledger, then lock the period.

Closing the month in AP means making sure every bill for the month is entered, approved and coded and the payables balance ties out.

## The Sage 50 way

Where to find it: Setup > Settings > Company > System (Do not allow transactions dated before) and lock date

1. Reconcile the supplier ledger to the Purchase Ledger Control account (Aged Creditors total must match).
2. Set the lock date or tick 'Do not allow transactions dated before' so old periods cannot be posted into.

## Limits in Sage 50

- Lock date is a warning only for users with lock date access.
- A transaction in a locked period can still be moved to the current period (UK community report).

## The Pulsify way

1. Clear the Pulsify queue: approve, reject or archive each bill waiting.
2. Forward missing bills from suppliers to your Pulsify address.
3. Reconcile key supplier statements in Pulsify.
4. Then run reports and lock the period in Sage 50.

Pulsify connects to Sage 50. We set up the connection for you.

What Pulsify does not do here:

- Pulsify does not post accruals.
- Aged payables and period locks are in Sage 50.

## Common mistakes

- Treating the lock date as a hard stop, when it is a warning for users with lock date access.
- Closing the month without matching Aged Creditors to the control account.

## Common questions

### What should agree at month end?

The Aged Creditors total must match the Purchase Ledger Control account. Reconcile the supplier ledger to it.

### How do I stop posting into old periods?

Set the lock date or tick 'Do not allow transactions dated before' under Setup > Settings > Company > System.

### Is the lock date strict?

It is a warning only for users with lock date access. A UK community report says a transaction in a locked period can still be moved to the current period.

### Does Pulsify lock periods?

No. Lock the period in your accounting system.

## Sources

- https://communityhub.sage.com/gb/sage-50-accounts/f/general-discussion-uk/230084/is-there-a-way-on-sage-50-to-lock-the-previous-month-so-invoices-can-t-be-modified
- https://www.fssu.ie/app/uploads/2023/11/Sage-Webinar-Presentation-Slides-Using-the-Suppliers-Ledger-in-Sage-50-Nov-8th-23.pdf

Source: https://www.pulsify.tech/how-to/close-the-month-in-ap-in-sage-50/ (last checked 2026-10-19)