---
title: How to delete an accounting year
description: "To delete an existing accounting year, you must first remove all the data it contains. ## 1. Delete donation receipts If you have already created donation receipts for the accounting year, it is important that you delete them first in…"
url: "https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/master-data-finance/19-how-to-delete-an-accounting-year/"
updated: "2025-09-09"
category: Finances / Master data
---

# How to delete an accounting year

To delete an existing accounting year, you must first remove all the data it contains.

## 1. Delete donation receipts

If you have already created donation receipts for the accounting year, it is important that you delete them first in order to avoid errors later on.

To do this, navigate via ***Finances*** (1) to ***Donor*** (2) and ***delete*** (4) all donation receipts that have already been generated.

![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-401.png)

## 2. Delete transactions

Next you have to delete all entered transactions.

To do this, navigate via ***Finance*** (1) > ***Master data*** (2) to the ***Accounting years*** (3), open the ***menu*** (4) of the accounting year you want to delete and delete all entries it contains (5).

![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-400.png)

## 3. Delete accounts

Once you have deleted all donation receipts and transactions of the accounting year, you can delete all existing accounts.

**Warning**

Make sure that you have selected the accounting year that you want to delete later on, before you delete the accounts.

To do this, navigate in the ***Master data*** (2) to ***Accounts*** (3) and select ***Delete all accounts*** (5) via the ***three-dot-menu*** (4).

![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-402.png)

## 4. Delete cost centers

The last step is to delete all cost centers created in the accounting year.

To do this, navigate in the ***Master data*** (2) to ***Cost centers*** (3) and delete each cost center individually by clicking on the ***bin icon***(4).

![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-400.png)

## 5. Delete accounting year

Now you can finally delete the accounting year in the ***Master data*** (2) by clicking on the ***bin icon*** (4).

![](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-402.png)

#### Read more

- [How to add a new accounting year](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/master-data-finance/19-how-to-add-a-new-accounting-year/)
- [How to set up an account chart](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/master-data-finance/19-how-to-set-up-an-account-chart/)
- [How to add taxes](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/churchtools-modules/master-data-finance/19-how-to-add-taxes/)