Is it possible to backdate a subscription in Chargebee?

This article covers How to start a subscription to start in the past date?

Can I create a subscription for a previous term?

How to backdate subscriptions in bulk?

Do I have the option to backdate a subscription via API?

Error: 'Subscription start date cannot be before the billing period'.

How do you allow backdating?

How to backdate an invoice?

Backdated Invoicing

Summary

When you create Subscriptions with the start date as a past date, you might get this error 'Subscription start date cannot be before the billing period'. It is not possible to create a subscription with a past start date through Chargebee's web interface. To do this you need to enable the backdating subscriptions setting in your Chargebee Billing site.

Backdating Subscriptions and Invoices This feature is currently available on selective plans. Please refer to the plans and pricing page.

1. Single Subscription: Only applicable with Backdating subscription enabled

I. Chargebee UI

II. Import subscription API

2. Multiple Subscriptions: Enabling Backdating subscription is not required

I. Bulk operation

Solution

Subscription changes are crucial to all businesses and regardless of these changes taking effect in the past or future, Chargebee Billing gives you complete flexibility. Backdating Subscriptions and Invoices feature allows for subscription actions like upgrades, downgrades, price revisions, cancellations, and invoicing to be performed as on a past date.

Note: Backdating Subscription is not enabled by default. Click here to learn how to enable the backdating subscriptions setting in Chargebee Billing site.

I. Chargebee UI

Backdating Subscription Creation

You can enable this feature from Settings > Configure Chargebee > Billing LogIQ > Backdating Subscription and Invoices. In the Backdating Subscriptions and Invoices page, click Enable. Then select the subscription actions that you want to allow backdating from the dropdown.

Creation: Enable this option to allow your Chargebee users to backdate a subscription by specifying a start date from the past while creating it.

To backdate a subscription creation on your Chargebee site, follow these steps:

1. Click Create Subscription and specify the subscription details.

2. The Billing Info section displays a new option Choose date under the Start date for the subscription. You can select this option and select a date from the past to specify the exact subscription start date. You can select a date for up to one plan term in the past. For example, in the case of a monthly plan, the subscription can be backdated for up to one month in the past from the day of backdating. For a weekly plan, the subscription can be backdated for up to one week in the past from the day of backdating.

   

3. In the Invoicing Options section, select Immediately. Click Set the Invoice date to a past date, and select a date using the calendar.

   

   You can backdate the invoice by up to one plan term or one month in the past, whichever is shorter. However, you can not select a date that is earlier than the subscription start date. Click here to know more information.

II. Import Subscription API

You can make use of this API call to import a subscription mentioned in the link below,

PC 1.0: Import subscription

PC 2.0: Import subscription for Items

This API is not enabled for live sites by default. Please contact support@chargebee.com to get this enabled.

Apart from the required and optional parameters you pass to import a subscription, you need to pass the below parameters compulsorily to have the subscription creation backdated.

For example, the subscription was created on 10 Jan 2023 at 12:43, and the subscription start date was set for

05 Dec 2022 12:35 (1670223914)

curl https://sitename-test.chargebee.com/api/v2/customers/AUS/import_for_items
-u APIkey:
-d subscription_items[item_price_id][0]="cbdemo_advanced-USD-monthly"
-d subscription_items[quantity][0]=1
-d status="active"
-d started_at=1670223914

Result

Note: You also choose different activation date from start date using activated_at parameter.

2. Bulk Operation

This option is to only import subscription from other billing platform with backdated subscriptions. In order to backdate existing subscription in Chargebee you need to enable backdating subscription and use Update subscription API.

Step 1: Navigate to Import & Export data, steps provided below respectively:

PC 1.0

You can perform this action from Settings > Configure Chargebee > Import & Export Data > Choose a Bulk Operation > Subscriptions > Import Subscription

PC 2.0

You can perform this action from Settings > Configure Chargebee > Import & Export Data > Choose a Bulk Operation > Subscriptions > Import Subscription for items

Step 2: Download the sample CSV file

You can download the CSV 'import_subscriptions_sample_data.csv' file to update your subscription data.

Step 3: This file will contain sample records that you can replace with the current data records. Note that the data that needs to be added to the sheet should be in the same format as the sample data.

Now, you can update the current subscription price.

Note:

• Your CSV data file should contain all the columns specific to the operation you are performing. The sample CSV file has most of the columns required for the operation.
• Do not edit the column labels in the sample file and make sure the file extension is .CSV. 
• You can update this sheet with the data exported from the Invoice level.

Step 4: Drag and drop your data file into the web interface or upload it

Please refer to the Bulk operations document if you have received any errors while uploading the file.

Chargebee allows you to perform the following actions
Backdating Subscription Creation
Backdating Subscription Changes
Backdating Subscription Cancellation
Backdating Subscription Reactivation
Backdating Charges and Quick Charge