Posting Key 
Posting Key
The posting key controls the entry and processing of document line items. It defines which side of an account (debit or credit) and which account type is posted to, as well as which fields are contained in entry screens.
The entry of the document line item is controlled by the data you enter in the footer prior to accessing the line item screen. In the footer, you specify which account you are posting the item to and which posting key you want to use to do this. The posting key determines:
Posting keys are differentiated by customer, vendor and G/L accounts. Apart from the General Ledger Accounting (FI-GL) and Accounts Receivable and Payable (FI-AR/AP) components, there are also posting keys for asset and material accounts.
The following table lists some of the posting keys in the standard system.
Posting keys in the standard system
Posting Key |
Description |
40 |
G/L account debit posting |
50 |
G/L account credit posting |
01 |
Customer invoice |
11 |
Customer credit memo |
21 |
Vendor credit memo |
31 |
Vendor invoice |
Posting keys are defined at client level and therefore apply to all company codes.
The FI-GL, FI-AR, and FI-AP components are delivered with predefined posting keys. SAP recommends that you use these standard posting keys. If you change them or define new posting keys, all tables containing a reference to these keys must be maintained. This will be made clear in each of the subject-specific sections. If you want to delete posting keys, you should ensure that these are not already used in the system.