Post Audit Deductions: When Old Invoices Come Back to Haunt You
- The HRG Team
- Sep 22
- 1 min read
You closed the books. The year looked solid. Everyone celebrated hitting margin goals. Then six months later, a notice lands on your desk: “Retailer X has identified discrepancies in invoices from last year. A deduction of $850,000 will be applied.”
Welcome to the world of post-audit deductions.
Retailers reserve the right to review past invoices months—or even years—after the fact. And they often do. These audits comb through your records with a fine-tooth comb, flagging anything from minor discrepancies in trade allowances to compliance errors you thought were long resolved.
The worst part? These deductions don’t show up until long after the books are “closed.” For suppliers, that means sudden six- or seven-figure surprises that blow up forecasts and cash flow.
Why Post-Audit Recovery Matters
It’s not optional. Retailers will take these deductions whether you’re ready or not.
It’s not small. HRG regularly sees multi-million-dollar claims appear from audits of old invoices.
It’s not predictable. What looks clean today can still trigger charges tomorrow.
The Bottom Line: Post-audit deductions are part of retail reality. Recovery is the only way to level the playing field.
Take Action: Don’t let old invoices derail tomorrow’s margins. HRG specializes in post-audit recovery, helping suppliers identify, dispute, and reclaim what’s rightfully theirs.
