Explanation (150–250 words)

In Salesforce Billing, a Credit Memo is used to record and manage customer credits resulting from negative transactions—such as cancellations, returns, or amendments that reduce invoiced amounts. When a negative amend or cancellation occurs, Salesforce Billing automatically generates Credit Memo Lines to represent the negative value associated with the customer’s account balance.

Credit Memos serve multiple purposes: they reflect negative invoice balances, adjust billing records, and can later be applied to open invoices to offset charges or prepare the account for payment settlement. This ensures financial accuracy while maintaining a clear audit trail for adjustments.

By contrast, Debit Memos represent additional charges to customers, while Cash Memos are related to direct cash entries and do not manage negative invoice balances.

Exact Extract from Salesforce Billing Implementation Guide:

“A Credit Memo is used to record and manage customer credits resulting from negative transactions such as cancellations, refunds, or adjustments. These credits can be applied to open invoices or retained for future settlements.”