When creating return authorization from Invoice and credit memo from authorization, why is credit memo not automatically linked to the invoice?

AI generated answer (using internal Slack threads):

The reason why the credit memo is not automatically linked to the invoice when creating a return authorization from an invoice and a credit memo from the authorization is due to the way NetSuite's transaction flow is designed. In NetSuite, the standard process for handling returns and refunds is as follows: 1. Return Authorization: This is the initial step where the customer's request to return a product is recorded. This step does not have any impact on the accounting or inventory until it is approved. 2. Credit Memo: Once the return authorization is approved, a credit memo is created. This step reduces the Accounts Receivable balance for the customer and also updates the inventory. 3. Customer Refund: This is the final step where the customer is refunded for the returned product. This step reduces the cash balance. In this process, the credit memo is linked to the return authorization, not the original invoice. This is because the credit memo is directly related to the return authorization (it is created from the return authorization), and not directly related to the original invoice. The return authorization, on the other hand, is linked to the original invoice as it refers to the products sold in the original invoice. Therefore, if you want to link the credit memo to the original invoice, you would need to do it manually. This can be done by referencing the original invoice number in the credit memo, or by using a custom field or a custom transaction to link the credit memo to the original invoice. ****** Disclaimer: This response was generated by an artificial intelligence assistant based on previous conversations from multiple Slack channels, and may contain inaccuracies or mistakes. ******