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Cash Refund API

Issue immediate cash/check refunds to customers, combining credit memo and refund payment in a single transaction.


Endpoints​

MethodEndpointDescription
GET/record/v1/cashRefundList all cash refunds
GET/record/v1/cashRefund/{id}Get specific cash refund
POST/record/v1/cashRefundCreate new cash refund
PATCH/record/v1/cashRefund/{id}Update cash refund
DELETE/record/v1/cashRefund/{id}Delete cash refund

Key Fields​

Header Fields​

FieldTypeDescriptionRequired
idstringInternal ID (read-only)-
tranIdstringCash refund numberAuto-generated
entityobjectCustomer referenceYes
tranDatestringRefund date (ISO 8601)Yes
statusobjectCash refund statusRead-only
subsidiaryobjectSubsidiaryYes (OneWorld)

Financial Fields​

FieldTypeDescriptionRequired
currencyobjectTransaction currencyYes
exchangeRatenumberExchange rateAuto-calculated
subTotalnumberSubtotal (read-only)-
taxTotalnumberTotal tax (read-only)-
totalnumberRefund amount (read-only)-

Payment Fields​

FieldTypeDescriptionRequired
accountobjectCash/bank account for refundYes
paymentMethodobjectPayment methodNo
creditCardobjectCredit card referenceConditional
checkNumstringCheck numberNo

Source Transaction​

FieldTypeDescriptionRequired
createdFromobjectSource transaction (Cash Sale, RMA)No
otherRefNumstringExternal referenceNo

Billing & Shipping​

FieldTypeDescriptionRequired
billAddr1stringBilling address line 1No
billCitystringBilling cityNo
billStatestringBilling state/provinceNo
billZipstringBilling postal codeNo
shipAddr1stringShipping address line 1No
shipCitystringShipping cityNo
shipStatestringShipping state/provinceNo
shipZipstringShipping postal codeNo

Other Fields​

FieldTypeDescriptionRequired
salesRepobjectSales representativeNo
memostringInternal memoNo
classobjectDepartment/classNo
locationobjectLocationNo

Sublists​

FieldTypeDescriptionRequired
itemcollectionLine itemsYes (at least 1)

Line Items​

The item sublist contains the products/services being refunded.

Item Line Fields​

FieldTypeDescriptionRequired
itemobjectItem referenceYes
quantitynumberQuantity being refundedYes
ratenumberUnit priceYes
amountnumberLine total (qty × rate)Auto-calculated
descriptionstringLine descriptionNo
taxCodeobjectTax codeNo
taxRate1numberTax rate %Auto-calculated
grossAmtnumberAmount including taxAuto-calculated

Example: Create Cash Refund​

POST /record/v1/cashRefund
Content-Type: application/json
{
"entity": {
"id": "456"
},
"tranDate": "2025-12-25",
"subsidiary": {
"id": "1"
},
"currency": {
"id": "1"
},
"account": {
"id": "10"
},
"paymentMethod": {
"id": "2"
},
"checkNum": "CHK-1001",
"memo": "Cash refund for returned items",
"item": {
"items": [
{
"item": { "id": "789" },
"quantity": 1,
"rate": 99.99,
"description": "Widget Pro - Customer dissatisfied"
}
]
}
}

Response:

{
"id": "7001",
"tranId": "CR-7001",
"entity": {
"id": "456",
"refName": "Acme Corporation"
},
"tranDate": "2025-12-25",
"status": {
"id": "COMPLETED",
"refName": "Completed"
},
"subTotal": 99.99,
"taxTotal": 8.00,
"total": 107.99,
"links": [
{
"rel": "self",
"href": "https://{account}.suitetalk.api.netsuite.com/services/rest/record/v1/cashRefund/7001"
}
]
}

Example: Create Cash Refund from Cash Sale​

POST /record/v1/cashRefund
Content-Type: application/json
{
"entity": {
"id": "456"
},
"tranDate": "2025-12-25",
"createdFrom": {
"id": "4001"
},
"account": {
"id": "10"
},
"paymentMethod": {
"id": "1"
},
"memo": "Full refund - defective product",
"item": {
"items": [
{
"item": { "id": "789" },
"quantity": 2,
"rate": 49.99
}
]
}
}
Auto-Fill from Cash Sale

When you provide createdFrom with a cash sale ID, NetSuite can auto-fill customer and item details.


Example: Update Cash Refund​

PATCH /record/v1/cashRefund/7001
Content-Type: application/json
{
"memo": "Refund processed - check mailed",
"otherRefNum": "RMA-2025-001"
}

Cash Refund vs Credit Memo​

Cash RefundCredit Memo
Immediate cash payment to customerCredit on account
Reduces bank balanceReduces A/R balance
Single transactionSeparate from payment
Use for returned cash salesUse to apply against future invoices
Closes immediatelyRemains open until applied

Cash Refund vs Customer Refund​

Cash RefundCustomer Refund
Refunds returned itemsRefunds overpayments/credits
Includes line itemsApplies against credit memos
Reverses revenueReduces A/R credit balance
For product/service returnsFor payment corrections

Query Filters​

Find Cash Refunds by Date​

GET /record/v1/cashRefund?q=tranDate='2025-12-25'

Find by Customer​

GET /record/v1/cashRefund?q=entity='456'

Find by Payment Method​

GET /record/v1/cashRefund?q=paymentMethod='2'

Find by Date Range​

GET /record/v1/cashRefund?q=tranDate BETWEEN '2025-12-01' AND '2025-12-31'

Find High-Value Refunds​

GET /record/v1/cashRefund?q=total > 500

Find by Source Transaction​

GET /record/v1/cashRefund?q=createdFrom='4001'

Important Notes​

Accounting Impact​

Creating a cash refund:

  • Debit: Revenue/Income accounts (per line item)
  • Debit: Sales Tax Payable (if applicable)
  • Credit: Cash/Bank Account

This reverses both the revenue and cash from the original sale.

When to Use Cash Refunds​

  • Returned cash sales
  • Defective products
  • Customer cancellations
  • Service not rendered
  • Customer dissatisfaction
  • Quick refund without credit process

Immediate Payment​

  • Cash refunds process payment immediately
  • No separate customer refund transaction needed
  • Reduces cash/bank balance immediately
  • Cannot be partially applied

Payment Methods​

Common methods for cash refunds:

  • Check (most common)
  • Cash
  • Credit card refund (back to original card)
  • ACH/EFT
  • Store credit (use Credit Memo instead)

Credit Card Refunds​

  • Refund to original payment method
  • May require payment processor integration
  • Processing fees may apply
  • Reversal time varies by processor

Return Authorization Workflow​

Standard workflow for returns:

  1. Customer requests return
  2. Create Return Authorization (RMA)
  3. Receive items back
  4. Create Cash Refund
  5. Process payment to customer

Inventory Impact​

  • Returns items to inventory
  • Updates item quantities
  • Affects inventory valuation
  • May trigger restock fees

Revenue Recognition​

  • Reverses revenue immediately
  • Important for financial reporting
  • Affects period-end close
  • May impact revenue allocations

Voiding vs Deleting​

  • Void: Recommended for posted refunds
  • Creates reversing journal entries
  • Maintains audit trail
  • Delete: Only if period unlocked and no GL impact

Multi-Currency​

  • Must match customer's currency
  • Exchange rate captured at refund date
  • May differ from original sale rate
  • Exchange gain/loss may apply

See Also​