I have a subscription owner role, but cannot see any billing info

Question

I have a subscription Owner role, but I cannot see any billing info like invoices and payment methods.

I even added some additional explicit billing roles. Still can't see it.

From Subscription > Access Control > View My Access, i have the following Role Assignments:

• Azure Usage Billing Data Sender
• Billing Reader
• Allows read access to billing data
• Owner
• Usage Billing Contributor
• User Access Administrator

My account was created 10 years ago so maybe there is some kind of migration issue.

There is another subscription owner that can see everything just fine but I am having issues.

Please let me know if you can help. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hello Graeham,

Kindly check our below investigation.

Possible Causes:

• Role Hierarchy Conflicts: Sometimes roles like "Owner" may not automatically grant billing-related access, especially if they are being overridden or influenced by more specific billing roles. It's good that you've added Billing Reader and Usage Billing Contributor, but they may need to be paired with a Billing Admin or specific permissions within the Microsoft Billing scope.

Account and Subscription Type Mismatch: Since your account was created 10 years ago, it's possible there are legacy configurations or restrictions in place for older accounts. Microsoft may have different access policies or configurations for accounts that were created during early periods of Azure's billing system.

Billing Account Association: It’s also possible that your Azure subscription is not properly linked to the correct billing account, especially if you're seeing that another owner has full access. If there's a separation between the Azure account and the billing account, that could cause discrepancies.

Recommended Actions:

Verify Billing Permissions: Ensure you have the Billing Admin role on the billing account in addition to the Billing Reader. The Billing Admin role should allow you to view invoices and manage payment methods.

You can also verify this by going to:

• Subscriptions > Access Control (IAM) > Check if you're granted Billing Admin in the Billing Account.

Check Subscription Link to Billing Profile: Confirm that your subscription is associated with the right billing profile and billing account. This is important as the Azure subscription can have different billing configurations depending on the account type. You may need to work with the other subscription owner to confirm this.

Check Billing Account Configuration: If your account has been migrated or transitioned over the years, there may be old configurations that impact access. If possible, compare the Azure AD Tenant and Billing Account between your account and the other subscription owner’s account. This might shed light on any discrepancies in your access setup.

• Review Azure AD Roles: Sometimes, roles assigned via Azure AD (Directory roles) can also influence what you can see, especially in older accounts. You might have to check if your account needs a higher level of access like Global Administrator or Billing Administrator at the directory level.

Let me know if you'd like to dive deeper into any of these steps!

Answer 2

Hey Graeham,

It seems like you’re having a tough time accessing billing information despite having the Owner role and additional billing roles assigned. Here are some potential reasons and troubleshooting steps that might help:

Billing Profile Permissions: Since you mentioned you don't have permission to view billing profiles, it's crucial to have the right permissions set for your billing profile. Double-check if the account you're using has the role of Billing Profile Owner, as this role allows viewing and managing billing settings.

Scope Verification: Make sure you are looking at the correct billing scope. Access issues can arise if your view is set to an incorrect scope. You can check this by going to Cost Management + Billing and verifying your access under Billing scopes and Billing accounts.

Billing Account Type: You mentioned you did not see any settings for "Billing Accounts." Ensure you check if your account is set up as a Microsoft Customer Agreement. Since your account is older, it might have different settings applied. You can find information about your billing account type under Cost Management + Billing > Billing accounts.

Comparative Access: As there's another subscription owner who can see everything, compare your role assignments carefully. Sometimes missing a specific role like “Billing Account Owner” can limit visibility.

Azure RBAC Settings: Ensure the “AO view charges” setting is enabled at the billing account scope if applicable. This is necessary for Account Owners to view charges.

Check for Locking Settings: There may also be organization or regional policies in place that restrict billing data visibility.

Recent Changes: Since you indicated there haven't been recent role changes, it’s worth reviewing if any organization-wide settings or migrations might have inadvertently altered your access.

Follow-Up Questions

If the above steps don’t resolve your issue, it would be helpful to have the following information:

• Can you confirm if your billing account type is specifically a Microsoft Customer Agreement, Enterprise Agreement, etc.?
• Are there specific error messages beyond what you’ve shared when accessing invoices?
• Can you check if the “view charges” settings are properly configured for your account?
• Have you been able to access billing information in the past, and if so, when did the issue begin?

This information can help narrow down the issue, and I hope it leads you to a resolution! If you need further assistance, just let me know!

References:

• Assign access to Cost Management data
• Enable MCA Access to Costs
• Cost Management + Billing overview
• View your billing accounts in Azure portal

Answer 3

If you are unable to see billing information despite having the Owner role and additional billing roles assigned, there are a few potential reasons to consider:

1. Permissions: Ensure that the roles you have assigned, such as Billing Reader and Usage Billing Contributor, are correctly set up to allow access to billing information. The Owner role typically provides broad access, but specific billing roles may be necessary for viewing invoices and payment methods.
2. Account Type: Since your account was created 10 years ago, it’s possible that there are legacy settings or configurations affecting your access. Azure has undergone various updates and migrations over the years, which might impact older accounts differently.
3. Tenant Issues: Verify that you are signed into the correct Microsoft Entra tenant. If your billing account is associated with a different tenant, you will not see the billing information.
4. Role Assignment Visibility: Sometimes, even with the correct roles, there may be a delay or issue in visibility. Try logging out and back in, or accessing the Azure portal from a different browser or device.
5. Access Control Settings: Check the access control settings on the subscription level to ensure that there are no restrictions preventing you from viewing billing information.

If after checking these factors you still cannot access billing information, consider reaching out to Azure support for further assistance, as they can provide more detailed insights into your account's configuration and any potential issues.

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References:

• Troubleshoot viewing your billing account in the Azure portal
• Manage access to billing information for Azure