Updating a value counter of an IC card

The invention relates to a method and system for updating a counter (2) of an electronic element in which are stored records (6) each containing at least one individual value (U-VAL) and at least one data item. sorting system (EXP), comprising: transferring to a memory (11) of a reader, an initial count (INIT) of the counter and said records; calculating on the reader side an intermediate account (INTER) equal to the minimum of the initial count and the sum of the individual values ​​of the records whose sort data falls within a known range of the reader; and transferring, in the counter of the electronic element, a function number of the intermediate account.