How to Release Blocked Invoices in SAP Using MRBR – Complete Guide with Example

How to Release Blocked Invoices in SAP Using MRBR – Complete Guide with Example: In SAP, a supplier invoice can be posted successfully but still remain blocked for payment. This usually happens when SAP detects a difference between the Purchase Order, Goods Receipt, and supplier invoice.

To process these invoices, SAP provides the transaction MRBR – Release Blocked Invoices.

What Is a Blocked Invoice in SAP?

A blocked invoice is an invoice that has been posted in SAP but cannot proceed for payment until the blocking reason is reviewed and resolved.

Common reasons include.

• Price variance
• Quantity variance
• Goods Receipt mismatch
• Manual payment block
• Stochastic block
• Tolerance limit exceeded

A simple process is:

PO → Goods Receipt → MIRO → Invoice Block → MRBR → Release → Payment

Also Read: Invoice Processing in SAP MM: MIRO Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Practical Example

Suppose a company purchases 100 industrial bearings.

Purchase Order:
100 EA × ₹500 = ₹50,000

Goods Receipt:
100 EA received

Supplier Invoice:
100 EA × ₹550 = ₹55,000

Difference:

₹55,000 – ₹50,000 = ₹5,000

If the ₹5,000 variance exceeds the tolerance configured in SAP, the invoice may be blocked for payment.

How to Release a Blocked Invoice Using MRBR

Step 1: Open MRBR

Enter:

MRBR

in the SAP command field and press Enter.

The Release Blocked Invoices screen will open.

Step 2: Enter Selection Criteria

Enter the required details, such as:

• Company Code
• Invoice Document
• Fiscal Year
• Vendor, if required

Example:

Company Code: 1000
Invoice Document: 5100012345
Fiscal Year: 2026

Step 3: Choose the Release Method

Select either:

Release Manually

or

Release Automatically

For individual invoice verification, manual release is commonly used.

Step 4: Select the Blocking Reason

For a price or quantity difference, choose:

Blocked Due to Variances

Then click:

Execute (F8)

Step 5: Review the Invoice

Before releasing the invoice, check:

• PO price
• PO quantity
• Goods Receipt quantity
• Invoice quantity
• Invoice amount
• Blocking reason
• Required approval

For our example:

PO Price = ₹500/EA

Invoice Price = ₹550/EA

Variance = ₹50/EA

Total variance:

₹5,000

Do not release the invoice until you understand why the difference occurred.

Step 6: Correct or Approve the Difference

The supplier may have invoiced the wrong price, the PO may contain outdated pricing, or the Goods Receipt may have been posted incorrectly.

The responsible Procurement, Stores, or Finance team should investigate and resolve the issue according to company procedures.

Step 7: Release the Invoice

Once the issue is resolved and approval is available:

1. Select the invoice.
2. Click Release.
3. Save the changes.

The applicable payment block is removed, allowing the invoice to continue through the normal payment process.

Manual vs Automatic Release

Manual Release: An authorized user reviews and releases the invoice individually.

Automatic Release: SAP can recheck eligible invoices to determine whether the original blocking reason is still valid.

MRBR vs MIRO

Important Checklist Before Release

Always verify:

• Purchase Order
• Goods Receipt
• Supplier Invoice
• Price and quantity differences
• Blocking reason
• Required authorization

The most important rule is:

Do not release a blocked invoice without understanding the reason for the block.

Conclusion

MRBR is an important SAP MM and Accounts Payable transaction used to process blocked supplier invoices.

Remember the process:

PO → GR → MIRO → Variance Check → MRBR → Release → Payment

Understanding MRBR helps SAP users prevent incorrect vendor payments and maintain better control over invoice verification.

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