Credit Memo API

Issue credits to customers for returns, billing adjustments, or discounts using the NetSuite REST API.

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Endpoints

Method	Endpoint	Description
GET	/record/v1/creditMemo	List all credit memos
GET	/record/v1/creditMemo/{id}	Get specific credit memo
POST	/record/v1/creditMemo	Create new credit memo
PATCH	/record/v1/creditMemo/{id}	Update credit memo
DELETE	/record/v1/creditMemo/{id}	Delete credit memo

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Key Fields

Header Fields

Field	Type	Description	Required
id	string	Internal ID (read-only)	-
tranId	string	Credit memo number	Auto-generated
entity	object	Customer reference	Yes
tranDate	string	Credit date (ISO 8601)	Yes
status	object	Credit memo status	Read-only
subsidiary	object	Subsidiary	Yes (OneWorld)

Financial Fields

Field	Type	Description	Required
currency	object	Transaction currency	Yes
exchangeRate	number	Exchange rate	Auto-calculated
subTotal	number	Subtotal (read-only)	-
taxTotal	number	Total tax (read-only)	-
total	number	Credit amount (read-only)	-
amountRemaining	number	Unapplied credit (read-only)	-
amountPaid	number	Applied credit (read-only)	-

Source Transaction

Field	Type	Description	Required
createdFrom	object	Source transaction (Invoice, RMA)	No
otherRefNum	string	External reference	No

Billing & Shipping

Field	Type	Description	Required
billAddr1	string	Billing address line 1	No
billCity	string	Billing city	No
billState	string	Billing state/province	No
billZip	string	Billing postal code	No
shipAddr1	string	Shipping address line 1	No
shipCity	string	Shipping city	No
shipState	string	Shipping state/province	No
shipZip	string	Shipping postal code	No

Other Fields

Field	Type	Description	Required
salesRep	object	Sales representative	No
memo	string	Internal memo	No
message	object	Message to customer	No
class	object	Department/class	No
location	object	Location	No

Sublists

Field	Type	Description	Required
item	collection	Line items	Yes (at least 1)

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Line Items

The item sublist contains the products/services being credited.

Item Line Fields

Field	Type	Description	Required
item	object	Item reference	Yes
quantity	number	Quantity being credited	Yes
rate	number	Unit price	Yes
amount	number	Line total (qty × rate)	Auto-calculated
description	string	Line description	No
taxCode	object	Tax code	No
taxRate1	number	Tax rate %	Auto-calculated
grossAmt	number	Amount including tax	Auto-calculated

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Example: Create Credit Memo

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

{
  "entity": {
    "id": "456"
  },
  "tranDate": "2025-12-25",
  "subsidiary": {
    "id": "1"
  },
  "currency": {
    "id": "1"
  },
  "salesRep": {
    "id": "123"
  },
  "memo": "Return - defective items",
  "message": {
    "id": "1"
  },
  "item": {
    "items": [
      {
        "item": { "id": "789" },
        "quantity": 2,
        "rate": 99.99,
        "description": "Widget Pro - Defective units"
      },
      {
        "item": { "id": "790" },
        "quantity": 2,
        "rate": 10.00,
        "description": "Restocking fee"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Response:

{
  "id": "6001",
  "tranId": "CM-6001",
  "entity": {
    "id": "456",
    "refName": "Acme Corporation"
  },
  "tranDate": "2025-12-25",
  "status": {
    "id": "OPEN",
    "refName": "Open"
  },
  "subTotal": 219.98,
  "taxTotal": 17.60,
  "total": 237.58,
  "amountRemaining": 237.58,
  "amountPaid": 0.00,
  "links": [
    {
      "rel": "self",
      "href": "https://{account}.suitetalk.api.netsuite.com/services/rest/record/v1/creditMemo/6001"
    }
  ]
}

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Example: Create Credit Memo from Invoice

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

{
  "entity": {
    "id": "456"
  },
  "tranDate": "2025-12-25",
  "createdFrom": {
    "id": "5001"
  },
  "memo": "Billing adjustment - overcharge",
  "item": {
    "items": [
      {
        "item": { "id": "789" },
        "quantity": 1,
        "rate": 50.00,
        "description": "Adjustment for overcharge"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Auto-Fill from Invoice

When you provide createdFrom with an invoice ID, NetSuite can auto-fill customer and other details from the invoice.

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Example: Update Credit Memo

PATCH /record/v1/creditMemo/6001
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "memo": "Return approved - credit issued",
  "otherRefNum": "RMA-2025-001"
}

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Apply Credit to Invoice

Credits can be applied when creating a Customer Payment:

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

{
  "customer": {
    "id": "456"
  },
  "tranDate": "2025-12-26",
  "payment": 0,
  "apply": {
    "items": [
      {
        "doc": { "id": "5002" },
        "apply": true,
        "amount": 237.58
      }
    ]
  },
  "credit": {
    "items": [
      {
        "doc": { "id": "6001" },
        "apply": true,
        "amount": 237.58
      }
    ]
  }
}

This applies credit memo 6001 against invoice 5002.

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Query Filters

Find Open Credit Memos

GET /record/v1/creditMemo?q=status='OPEN'

Find by Customer

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

Find Unapplied Credits

GET /record/v1/creditMemo?q=amountRemaining > 0

Find by Date Range

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

Find High-Value Credits

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

Find by Source Invoice

GET /record/v1/creditMemo?q=createdFrom='5001'

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Important Notes

Accounting Impact

Creating a credit memo:

• Debit: Revenue/Income accounts (per line item)
• Debit: Sales Tax Payable (if applicable)
• Credit: Accounts Receivable

This reverses the accounting entries from the original sale.

When to Use Credit Memos

• Product returns (with Return Authorization)
• Billing adjustments
• Pricing corrections
• Volume discounts applied retroactively
• Service credits
• Customer goodwill credits

Credit Memo Statuses

Status	Description
OPEN	Credit available to apply
FULLY_APPLIED	Credit fully used
VOIDED	Credit voided

Applying Credits

Credits can be applied to:

• Open invoices
• Future invoices
• Can be refunded via Customer Refund
• Applied via Customer Payment transaction

Credit Memo vs Cash Refund

Credit Memo	Cash Refund
Credit on account	Immediate cash payment
Reduces A/R balance	Reduces cash balance
Apply against invoices	One-time transaction
Remains until applied	Closes immediately

Source Transactions

• Can be created from Invoices
• Can be created from Return Authorizations (RMA)
• Can be standalone (no source)
• Maintains reference via createdFrom

Multi-Currency Considerations

• Must match customer's currency
• Exchange rate captured at creation
• Applied credits use credit memo exchange rate

Revenue Impact

• Reverses revenue recognition
• Impacts financial reporting
• May trigger revenue allocation adjustments
• Important for period-end close

Item Returns

For physical product returns:

1. Create Return Authorization (RMA)
2. Receive items back (Item Receipt)
3. Create Credit Memo
4. Apply credit to customer account

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See Also

• Invoice - Original invoices
• Return Authorization - Process returns
• Customer Refund - Issue cash refunds
• Customer Payment - Apply credits to invoices
• Cash Refund - Combined credit and refund