SAP FI · Materials Management

How to Fix SAP Error F5802: "Document Includes Already Cleared Items — Reversal Not Possible"

If you've worked with SAP Financial Accounting (FI) long enough, you've probably hit the roadblock called Error F5802. You try to reverse a goods receipt or cancel an invoice — and SAP throws up this message: "Document includes already cleared items - reversal not possible." Frustrating, right? But don't worry. There's a clean, effective way to fix it.

🔍 What's Really Going On with Error F5802?

This error typically pops up in either of these two cases:

  • You're reversing a material document using MBST
  • Or you're cancelling a logistics invoice with MR8M, which was originally posted with MR1M

What ties both cases together? A cleared GR/IR (Goods Receipt / Invoice Receipt) account. SAP has already matched the goods receipt with the invoice — the entries are cleared. And once something's cleared, SAP locks it down. No take-backs unless you reset that cleared status first.

🔒 Why SAP Blocks the Reversal

Think of it like this: imagine settling a bill with a vendor, and then weeks later, trying to cancel the transaction. It'd wreak havoc on your financial reports, audits, and downstream processes.

ℹ️

SAP avoids this chaos by preventing reversals on cleared line items. It's a safeguard, not a bug.

🛠 How to Actually Fix It (Step-by-Step)

Let's cut straight to the chase. If you want to reverse a cleared document, here's how to do it properly.

1

Use Transaction FBRA to Reset Cleared Items

  • Go to Transaction: FBRA
  • Enter the document number, fiscal year, and company code
  • Tick the checkbox for "Reset cleared items"
  • Execute

This undoes the clearing — the system now treats the item as an open item again.

2

Proceed with Reversal

  • Use MBST to reverse a goods receipt
  • Use MR8M to reverse a logistics invoice

📋 Bonus: The SAP Note 326707 Shortcut

You might be wondering — is there another way?

⚠️

SAP Note 326707 offers a system-level correction that doesn't require manual resetting. Think of it as the shortcut — but you'll need appropriate authorizations to implement it, and it may involve coordination with your Basis team.

💡 Pro Tip: Avoid the Problem in the First Place

Always check if the GR/IR account has been cleared before attempting a reversal. You can do this by:

  • Reviewing the accounting document via FB03
  • Verifying clearing status via line item display (FBL3N for GL accounts)
✅

Catching this early saves you a ton of rework later.

🏁 Final Thoughts: It's Not a Bug — It's a Feature

SAP can feel a bit rigid at times, but that's by design. Error F5802 may seem like a roadblock, but it's actually a safeguard that ensures financial accuracy and accountability. Once you know how to work with it — not against it — you'll resolve these issues in minutes, not hours.

So next time SAP says "Reversal not possible", you'll know exactly what to do, and why.