Why we don't present the remaining invoice balance on the credit note

QUESTION:

When credit notes are issued, users have to manually add the new total that the client has to pay in the WORD document. Sometimes, they are requested to issue credit notes months (or in rare cases, years) after the original invoice was sent out. It is a long and tedious process to search for the initial invoice, do the math and modify the document before sending it to the client.

Given that the system already identifies the original invoice being reduced, is there a way to automatically generate this on the credit note?

RESPONSE:

The decision not to display the remaining amount to be paid on the credit note is due to the potential discrepancy between what the client perceives as the balance to be paid (original invoice value minus the credited amount) and the actual invoice balance. This variance could arise from partial payments, previous credit notes issued, or accounts receivable write-offs that might have not been reflected in this particular document, resulting in inconsistent information.

A credit note is issued to communicate mutually agreed-upon value adjustments with clients. If you wish to provide your client with a comprehensive view of their invoice balance, we recommend including a statement of account document alongside the credit note. The statement of account offers an overview of invoice transactions, clarifying adjustments made and displaying current balances while also presenting the interest and payment method information not covered by the credit note.

If you still want to display the invoice balance on the credit note, we recommend utilizing the 'Reason' feature and opting to print it on the credit note document. Please note that you will need to calculate the balance manually. You have the flexibility to input this information at the start of or after creating an unposted credit note. For convenience, consider saving this text in its entirety except the balance amount within your Reason library.