---
title: Material issue and return notes
description: Issue materials to a job with a MIN, return unused stock with an MRN, and keep stock and work-in-progress costs accurate in the ledger.
url: https://docs.tryaxo.com/material-notes/
updated: 2026-10-04
---

# Material issue and return notes

*Issue materials to a job, return what wasn't used, and keep stock and costs accurate.*

**Material issue note (MIN)**

A MIN takes stock out of inventory for a job, project or work order, and moves its cost into work in progress.

1. Go to **Operations** and open material issues, then choose **New issue**.
2. Choose the job or work order, and the items and quantities.
3. Submit it for approval. The note moves from Draft to Approved to Issued.
4. Once issued, stock goes down and the cost moves to work in progress.

**Material return note (MRN)**

An MRN returns unused material to stock. It links to the issue it came from, and reverses the cost at the value it was issued at.

Returns can be partial — issue 80 units, use 79, return 1 — but you can't return more than was issued.

> **Note:** Notes are never deleted. Material that shouldn't have gone out is brought back with a return note, so the full history stays visible.