Google published new documentation highlighting its Invalid Activity Credit Report, bringing renewed attention to a little-known tool that helps advertisers track refunds issued for invalid clicks and interactions.
The big picture. It’s unclear whether the Invalid Activity Credit Report itself is new as advertisers have seen several of those metrics, like invalid click rate before. However, the help document makes it clear the report gives advertisers a more detailed view of credits issued for invalid traffic across Search and Performance Max campaigns.
How it works. Google says it uses automated systems to detect and block invalid traffic before advertisers are charged. But some invalid activity is identified only after billing has occurred.
When that happens, Google may issue credits to advertisers for the associated spend.
While those credits already appear in billing and transaction histories, the Invalid Activity Credit Report provides a more detailed breakdown of:
- Credited clicks
- Credited interactions
- Credited spend
- Campaign-level impact
- Adjusted performance metrics after credits are applied
Why we care. The Invalid Activity Credit Report provides a clearer picture of how much campaign spend is being refunded due to invalid clicks and traffic, helping advertisers better understand their true performance and costs.
The new help documentation also raises awareness of a reporting tool that many advertisers may not know exists, making it easier to audit traffic quality and verify Google’s fraud protection efforts.
Why Google created it. According to Google, the report is designed to provide a clearer picture of campaign performance after invalid traffic adjustments.
The company says the report helps advertisers:
- View adjusted costs, clicks and interactions after credits are applied.
- Reduce the need for manual reconciliation between billing credits and campaign performance.
- Better understand how Google’s invalid traffic protections affect individual campaigns.
How to access it. Advertisers can find the report through the Report Editor in Google Ads.
From the Template Gallery, users can select “Invalid Activity Credit Report: Search & PMax” to generate a report populated with standard campaign metrics alongside new columns for credited clicks, credited interactions and credited amounts.
Additional adjusted performance metrics can also be added to reflect campaign results after credits have been applied.
What to watch. The report could become a valuable auditing tool for advertisers running large Search and Performance Max budgets, particularly those monitoring traffic quality and investigating discrepancies between reported performance and billing.
As AI-powered campaign automation continues to expand, visibility into invalid traffic and refunded spend is likely to become an increasingly important part of campaign management.
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