The Ghost in Your Ledger: Deductions That Disappear Until It’s Too Late

Some deductions are like horror movie villains. You think the threat’s over—then boom, they’re back for a sequel.

These are what we call post-audit deductions—delayed charges that hit long after the sale, often months after the product shipped. By the time they show up, it’s too late to push back.

The proof’s gone. The POs closed. Everyone’s moved on.

But guess what? The retailer’s system didn’t forget. It was just slow to catch up.

Here’s a fictional example: A home goods supplier ships a major seasonal order in August. Everything looks fine until January, when they’re hit with a $19,000 deduction for supposed “late delivery.” But the shipment wasn’t late—it was just scanned in under a temporary warehouse code due to holiday overflow. Try explaining that to AP five months later.

These ghosts in your ledger don’t care about your timelines. That’s why smart suppliers:

• Set up alerts for backdated deductions

• Monitor deductions weekly, not quarterly

• Keep documentation accessible for up to a year after shipment

• Treat post-audit claims as red flags, not routine noise

You can’t fight what you can’t see. So stop letting deductions haunt your margins. It’s time to turn on the lights.

Take Action:

Don’t wait for deductions to resurface when you can’t fight back. HRG helps you see them before they strike.

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