Question on Asset Acquisition Posting in 01/2025 with Depreciation Start in 12/2024

[merle2]

Dear all, 

I have a question regarding asset accounting, specifically posting an asset acquisition. 

How would I post an acquisition that I only recognise and post in 01/2025 (because 12/2024 is already closed), but I want to run the depreciation in 12/2024? So the period 12 is closed, the financial year 2024 is not yet closed, as it has not yet been audited by the auditor (so post-capitalisation is not possible).

When I try to set the asset value date to December 2024 I get an error message saying that the posting date and asset value date need to be in the same fiscal year. So the only solution I found right now would be to also put the posting date into 2024, but thats mostly not possible, since the period was most likely already closed. 

In the acquisition transaction, I noticed that there’s an option to switch the acquisition year between the current year and the previous year. However, changing this setting doesn’t seem to have any visible effect unless it’s used for credit memos or revaluations (as mentioned in some scope items).

So to sum my questions up:

• What is the correct and compliant way to post an acquisition like this (identified in 01/2025, but depreciation should start in 12/2024)?

• How does the system technically handle the combination of journal entry date, posting date, and asset value date when periods are closed?

• Is it sufficient to rely on the postingdate and asset value date setting alone, or are there other best practices or configuration points to consider to ensure correct depreciation calculation?

I’d really appreciate any clarification or experience you can share — thanks in advance!

Kind regards, 
Merle

[Jeremy_Deo · Accepted solution]

Hello dear user,

And thank you for asking your questions on the SAP Community blog.

Asset Accounting has strict rules about fiscal year handling, and your case sits exactly at the intersection of period closure, depreciation, and asset recognition rules.

Your Scenario in Brief:

Asset acquired: Identified in 01/2025.

Depreciation desired to start: 12/2024.

Posting period 12/2024: Already closed (posting is not possible).

FY 2024: Not closed (still open for audit).

You get an error when the asset value date ≠ posting date fiscal year.

Key Concepts in SAP FI-AA (S/4HANA Cloud)

1. Posting Date

Defines when the document hits the General Ledger.

Cannot be set in closed periods.

Technically, this determines the accounting period.

2. Asset Value Date

Triggers the start of depreciation.

Defines the capitalization date in FI-AA.

Must be in the same fiscal year as the posting date - this is standard SAP behavior to prevent mismatched accounting records.

3. Acquisition Year

Option you mentioned (current/previous year) is only relevant for manual revaluations or corrections, and mostly non-effective unless used in those contexts.

Why Your Attempt Fails

You want:

Posting date: 01/2025

Asset value date: 12/2024

SAP gives:

“Asset value date and posting date must be in same fiscal year”

This is standard logic and cannot be bypassed, especially in S/4HANA Cloud where direct table updates or custom logic isn't allowed.

Correct and Compliant Options

Option 1: Wait and Open Period 12/2024 Temporarily

Open period 12/2024, post with posting date in 12/2024 and asset value date = 12/2024.

Close period again.

This gives you the correct depreciation start.

Option 2: Post in 01/2025, Set Asset Value Date = 01/2025, and Adjust Depreciation Later

Post with posting date 01/2025, value date 01/2025 (SAP will allow this).

Then run depreciation recalculation (AFAR).

Manually post an unplanned depreciation for Dec 2024 equivalent if allowed by policy.

Option 3: Use a Prior Year Asset Transfer as a Workaround

Create a legacy asset with a value date = 12/2024

Use "Transfer within the same system" with effective date = 12/2024

No FI entry is generated if done carefully

Then post the actual acquisition in 01/2025

Best Practice (SAP-Recommended)

SAP recommends that the posting date and value date are always aligned, and if you missed a posting in a prior year/period, to either:

Temporarily open the prior period and post correctly, OR

Post in current period and adjust depreciation using manual posting or unplanned depreciation.

I hope this explanation will help you solve your issue.

Best regards,

Jeremy

[merle2 · Accepted solution]

Hi Jeremy, thank you very much for your answer!