Correct logged time before it is billed

update_time_entry edits a single unbilled entry and recomputes the amount when hours or rate changes. Entries attached to an invoice are immutable, because editing them would not change the document the client received.

Written and reviewed by the Billr team. Published 2026-09-20, last reviewed 2026-09-20.

Who this is for: Anyone reviewing a week of agent-logged time before invoicing it.
Billr capabilities used: update_time_entrydelete_time_entrylist_time_entries

What you need first

The entry id, from list_time_entries or list_unbilled.
A key with the Read and draft profile for edits; deletion needs the full profile.
Confirmation that the entry is not already attached to an invoice.

Step by step

01Change one field or several
Pass only what changes. Setting rate also recomputes the amount as hours times rate, and setting client_id or client_name reassigns the entry.
Example
```
update_time_entry  {
  "time_entry_id": "9a2d0b71-6c34-4f52-8e19-2b7c4d0a6f31",
  "rate": 150
}
```
02Know when an entry is frozen
A billed entry refuses edits with a clear message. The database keeps linked work immutable while its invoice exists, and cancelling that invoice does not release it.
03Delete only when the entry was a mistake
delete_time_entry removes an unbilled entry and cannot be undone. It needs the full key profile, and the response reminds you to re-log the time if the deletion was wrong.
Example
```
delete_time_entry  {
  "time_entry_id": "9a2d0b71-6c34-4f52-8e19-2b7c4d0a6f31"
}
```
04Confirm the ledger
Read the entry back, or list the client range again, and check is_billed is false before assuming the correction stuck.

Worked example

Fictional account, field names as returned by the server

You say

The analytics audit was 45 minutes at $150, fix that entry.

Your agent calls

update_time_entry { "time_entry_id": "9a2d0b71-6c34-4f52-8e19-2b7c4d0a6f31", "hours": 0.75, "rate": 150 }

Expected response, abridged

{
  "summary": "Updated time entry: 0.75h on 2026-09-29",
  "time_entry": {
    "id": "9a2d0b71-6c34-4f52-8e19-2b7c4d0a6f31",
    "description": "Analytics audit",
    "hours": 0.75,
    "rate": 150,
    "amount": 112.5,
    "is_billable": true,
    "is_billed": false
  }
}

Limits and gotchas

Deletion requires the full profile, and the server records no undo for it.
Attached entries cannot be edited or unlinked while the invoice exists.
Changing hours or rate on an entry that someone already quoted does not update the quote.
Corrections never rewrite an invoice that has already been sent.

Troubleshooting

The edit is refused because the entry is billed: The work is attached to an invoice. Correct the draft with update_draft_invoice while it is still a draft, or leave the record as it stands.
The amount did not change: Adjust rate or hours; description or date changes do not touch the money on the entry.
Deletion is refused with a permission message: Deleting needs the full key profile. Use a key that has it, or leave the entry non-billable instead of deleting it.

Sources

Reviewed 2026-09-20 against Billr's own tool implementations and the client documentation linked above.