Revenue Recognition Template API

Create, read, update, and delete revenue recognition template records using the NetSuite REST API.

Endpoints

Method	Endpoint	Description
`GET`	`/record/v1/revRecTemplate`	List all revenue recognition templates
`GET`	`/record/v1/revRecTemplate/{id}`	Get specific template
`POST`	`/record/v1/revRecTemplate`	Create new template
`PATCH`	`/record/v1/revRecTemplate/{id}`	Update existing template
`DELETE`	`/record/v1/revRecTemplate/{id}`	Delete template

Base URL

https://{account_id}.suitetalk.api.netsuite.com/services/rest/record/v1/revRecTemplate

Key Fields

Basic Information

Field	Type	Description	Required
`id`	string	Internal ID (read-only)	-
`name`	string	Template name	Yes
`isInactive`	boolean	Inactive flag	No

Template Configuration

Field	Type	Description	Required
`amortizationType`	object	Amortization method	Yes
`recurrencePattern`	object	Recurrence pattern	Yes
`periodOffset`	number	Number of periods	No

Advanced Settings

Field	Type	Description	Required
`description`	string	Template description	No
`deferralAccount`	object	Deferred revenue account	No
`destinationAccount`	object	Recognition account	No

Recognition Pattern

Field	Type	Description	Required
`recognitionPattern`	collection	Custom recognition pattern	No
`useFairValue`	boolean	Use fair value allocation	No

Example: Create Revenue Recognition Template

POST /record/v1/revRecTemplate
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {access_token}

{
  "name": "12-Month Subscription Template",
  "description": "Standard 12-month subscription revenue recognition",
  "amortizationType": {
    "id": "STRAIGHTLINE"
  },
  "recurrencePattern": {
    "id": "MONTHLY"
  },
  "periodOffset": 12,
  "isInactive": false
}

Response

{
  "links": [
    {
      "rel": "self",
      "href": "https://1234567.suitetalk.api.netsuite.com/services/rest/record/v1/revRecTemplate/18"
    }
  ],
  "id": "18",
  "name": "12-Month Subscription Template",
  "description": "Standard 12-month subscription revenue recognition",
  "amortizationType": {
    "id": "STRAIGHTLINE",
    "refName": "Straight Line"
  },
  "recurrencePattern": {
    "id": "MONTHLY",
    "refName": "Monthly"
  },
  "periodOffset": 12,
  "isInactive": false
}

Example: Create Quarterly Template

POST /record/v1/revRecTemplate
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "name": "Quarterly Service Template",
  "description": "Quarterly service revenue recognition over 2 years",
  "amortizationType": {
    "id": "STRAIGHTLINE"
  },
  "recurrencePattern": {
    "id": "QUARTERLY"
  },
  "periodOffset": 8,
  "isInactive": false
}

Example: Create Multi-Year Template

POST /record/v1/revRecTemplate
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "name": "3-Year Enterprise License Template",
  "description": "Enterprise license with 36-month revenue recognition",
  "amortizationType": {
    "id": "STRAIGHTLINE"
  },
  "recurrencePattern": {
    "id": "MONTHLY"
  },
  "periodOffset": 36,
  "deferralAccount": {
    "id": "150"
  },
  "destinationAccount": {
    "id": "400"
  },
  "isInactive": false
}

Example: Update Template

PATCH /record/v1/revRecTemplate/18
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "periodOffset": 24,
  "description": "Updated to 24-month subscription template"
}

Partial Updates

With PATCH, only include fields you want to change. All other fields remain unchanged.

Query Filters

Find Templates by Name

GET /record/v1/revRecTemplate?q=name LIKE 'Subscription%'

Find Active Templates

GET /record/v1/revRecTemplate?q=isInactive=false

Find Monthly Templates

GET /record/v1/revRecTemplate?q=recurrencePattern='MONTHLY'

Find Templates by Amortization Type

GET /record/v1/revRecTemplate?q=amortizationType='STRAIGHTLINE'

Find Templates by Period

GET /record/v1/revRecTemplate?q=periodOffset=12

Common Use Cases

1. Create Standard Subscription Templates

const templates = [
  {
    name: "Monthly Subscription",
    description: "1-month subscription",
    amortizationType: { id: "STRAIGHTLINE" },
    recurrencePattern: { id: "MONTHLY" },
    periodOffset: 1
  },
  {
    name: "Annual Subscription",
    description: "12-month subscription",
    amortizationType: { id: "STRAIGHTLINE" },
    recurrencePattern: { id: "MONTHLY" },
    periodOffset: 12
  },
  {
    name: "Bi-Annual Subscription",
    description: "24-month subscription",
    amortizationType: { id: "STRAIGHTLINE" },
    recurrencePattern: { id: "MONTHLY" },
    periodOffset: 24
  }
];

for (const template of templates) {
  await createRevRecTemplate(template);
}

2. Create Service Contract Template

await createRevRecTemplate({
  name: "Professional Services - 6 Month",
  description: "Professional services contract over 6 months",
  amortizationType: { id: "STRAIGHTLINE" },
  recurrencePattern: { id: "MONTHLY" },
  periodOffset: 6,
  deferralAccount: { id: "150" },
  destinationAccount: { id: "400" }
});

3. Create Software License Template

await createRevRecTemplate({
  name: "Enterprise Software License",
  description: "3-year enterprise software license",
  amortizationType: { id: "STRAIGHTLINE" },
  recurrencePattern: { id: "MONTHLY" },
  periodOffset: 36
});

4. Update Template Configuration

await patchRevRecTemplate(templateId, {
  periodOffset: 18,
  description: "Updated to 18-month template"
});

5. Deactivate Old Template

await patchRevRecTemplate(oldTemplateId, {
  isInactive: true,
  description: "Deprecated - Use new 2026 templates"
});

Important Notes

Required Fields

name - Template name is required
amortizationType - Amortization method is required
recurrencePattern - Recurrence pattern is required

Template vs. Schedule

Templates: Reusable patterns for revenue recognition
Schedules: Instance-specific recognition plans
Templates are applied to items; schedules are created from templates for transactions

Amortization Types

Common amortization type values:

STRAIGHTLINE - Equal amounts across all periods
CUSTOMTEMPLATE - Custom-defined recognition pattern
IMMEDIATE - Immediate recognition (100% upfront)
PERCENTAGE - Percentage-based recognition

Recurrence Patterns

Common recurrence pattern values:

MONTHLY - Monthly recognition
QUARTERLY - Quarterly recognition
ANNUALLY - Annual recognition
WEEKLY - Weekly recognition
DAILY - Daily recognition

Period Offset

Defines the total number of recognition periods
Monthly with offset 12 = 12 months
Quarterly with offset 4 = 4 quarters (1 year)
Not required if using custom recognition pattern

Account Configuration

Deferral Account: Unearned/deferred revenue account
Destination Account: Earned revenue account
Accounts can be specified at template, item, or transaction level
Template accounts serve as defaults

Template Activation

Inactive templates cannot be assigned to new items
Existing items retain their template assignment
Deactivating a template doesn't affect active recognition schedules

Best Practices

Create templates for each common contract length
Use clear, descriptive names (include duration and frequency)
Document business rules and use cases in description field
Test templates with sample transactions before production
Version template names when creating updates (e.g., "Annual Subscription v2")
Deactivate obsolete templates rather than deleting them

Integration with Items and Transactions

Items: Assign templates to subscription, service, or license items
Transactions: When item is sold, template creates actual recognition schedule
Billing Schedules: Coordinate with billing schedules for subscription revenue
Fair Value: Use useFairValue for multi-element arrangements

ASC 606 / IFRS 15 Compliance

Templates support compliance with revenue recognition standards
Ensure templates align with performance obligations
Document the business rationale for recognition patterns
Consider separate templates for different types of obligations
Review templates when contract terms change

Common Template Patterns

SaaS Subscriptions

{
  name: "SaaS Annual",
  amortizationType: { id: "STRAIGHTLINE" },
  recurrencePattern: { id: "MONTHLY" },
  periodOffset: 12
}

Professional Services

{
  name: "Professional Services - Fixed Fee",
  amortizationType: { id: "STRAIGHTLINE" },
  recurrencePattern: { id: "MONTHLY" },
  periodOffset: 6
}

Software Licenses

{
  name: "Perpetual License with Support",
  amortizationType: { id: "CUSTOMTEMPLATE" },
  recurrencePattern: { id: "MONTHLY" },
  periodOffset: 36
}

Warranties and Support

{
  name: "Extended Warranty - 2 Year",
  amortizationType: { id: "STRAIGHTLINE" },
  recurrencePattern: { id: "MONTHLY" },
  periodOffset: 24
}

Endpoints​

Base URL​

Key Fields​

Basic Information​

Template Configuration​

Advanced Settings​

Recognition Pattern​

Example: Create Revenue Recognition Template​

Response​

Example: Create Quarterly Template​

Example: Create Multi-Year Template​

Example: Update Template​

Query Filters​

Find Templates by Name​

Find Active Templates​

Find Monthly Templates​

Find Templates by Amortization Type​

Find Templates by Period​

Common Use Cases​

1. Create Standard Subscription Templates​

2. Create Service Contract Template​

3. Create Software License Template​

4. Update Template Configuration​

5. Deactivate Old Template​

Important Notes​

Required Fields​

Template vs. Schedule​

Amortization Types​

Recurrence Patterns​

Period Offset​

Account Configuration​

Template Activation​

Best Practices​

Integration with Items and Transactions​

ASC 606 / IFRS 15 Compliance​

Common Template Patterns​

SaaS Subscriptions​

Professional Services​

Software Licenses​

Warranties and Support​

See Also​