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Urgent Bookkeeping Mistakes and How to Fix Them in 24 Hours

Urgent Bookkeeping Mistakes and How to Fix Them in 24 Hours

Bookkeeping mistakes happen—even in the most organised businesses. But when they’re serious, urgent, and time-sensitive (think: tax submissions, client invoices, or SARS audits), they need fixing now.

If you’re an SME owner, the last thing you want is a small oversight turning into a major penalty, client dispute, or audit red flag.

The good news? Most bookkeeping mistakes can be resolved within 24 hours—if you act fast and follow a clear plan.

Here’s how to fix urgent accounting errors without losing your cool (or your credibility):

24 Hours button
1

Transactions Are Duplicated or Missing

The Problem:
Your reports are showing inflated income, missing expenses, or unreconciled balances—because someone duplicated entries or forgot to record them altogether.

Fix in 24 Hours:

  • Reconcile your bank accounts immediately using accounting software (Sage, Xero, QuickBooks).
  • Cross-check suspicious line items against your bank statements.
  • Flag and correct duplicated or missed transactions.

📌 Tip: Focus on the last 1–2 months. That’s where most urgent discrepancies lie.

2

VAT Calculations Are Off (and Submission Is Due)

The Problem:
You’re about to submit your VAT return and realise the numbers don’t add up—or you’ve claimed input VAT on invalid or undocumented expenses.

Fix in 24 Hours:

  • Reconcile all sales and purchases for the VAT period.
  • Remove unverified or questionable claims and use conservative estimates if necessary.
  • Submit on time and prepare to file a correction later if needed.

📌 Tip: Submitting something is better than submitting nothing. SARS penalties are harsher for non-submission.

3

Payroll or PAYE Was Submitted Incorrectly

The Problem:
You submitted payroll or PAYE to SARS with incorrect figures—possibly underpaying or misreporting.

Fix in 24 Hours:

  • Pull your latest payroll summary and compare it with what was submitted.
  • Calculate the exact discrepancy and prepare the correction file.
  • Submit a revised EMP201 or contact SARS with a formal request for correction.

📌 Tip: If you’re unsure how to correct submissions, call in a professional right away—Bletchleys handles these daily.

4

Invoices Sent with Wrong Amounts or VAT

The Problem:
A client calls—your invoice shows the wrong total, VAT, or dates. You risk late payments, compliance issues, or damaging trust.

Fix in 24 Hours:

  • Cancel or credit the incorrect invoice (don’t delete it).
  • Issue a corrected invoice with a clear reference to the original.
  • Communicate the correction to the client immediately.

📌 Tip: Professionalism in the correction is key—transparency builds trust, even after an error.

How Bletchleys Fixes Accounting Emergencies in 24 Hours

Mistakes happen. But how fast—and professionally—you fix them makes all the difference.

At Bletchleys, we:

  • Triage the problem and prioritise what needs fixing immediately
  • Clean up your books fast and accurately
  • Handle SARS submissions, corrections, and communication for you

We don’t just fix the error—we help you prevent the next one.

Got a bookkeeping emergency? Let’s fix it today.
Contact Bletchleys for a 24-hour accounting rescue and get back in control—fast.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

Trusted Partners in Cloud Accounting

Proudly working with Sage, Xero, and QuickBooks to keep your business compliant, efficient, and in control.

Sage Accounting | Xero | Quickbooks

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