In SAP S/4HANA, when entering a credit memo in Financial Accounting (FI), you may notice that the system ignores the payment terms specified during document entry. This behavior can occur due to specific reasons related to how the system processes credit memos and calculates due dates. Let’s analyze each option to determine the correct answers.

Explanation of Each Option:

A. The credit memo was entered in Financial Accounting.

Correct : When a credit memo is entered directly in Financial Accounting (e.g., using transaction FB01 or FB70), the system does not automatically apply the payment terms. Payment terms are typically used in Accounts Receivable (AR) or Accounts Payable (AP) processes, where they influence due dates and cash discount calculations. In FI, payment terms are often ignored because the focus is on posting the financial impact rather than managing payment schedules.

Reference : According to SAP documentation, payment terms are primarily relevant in AR/AP modules and may not be applied when documents are posted directly in FI.

D. The due date determined based on the entered payment terms is in the past.

Correct : If the due date calculated using the entered payment terms falls in the past, the system will ignore the payment terms. This is because SAP assumes that a due date in the past is invalid for processing purposes. Instead, the system uses the current date or another default value as the due date.

Reference : SAP documentation confirms that payment terms are ignored if the resulting due date is earlier than the posting date, ensuring logical consistency in financial postings.

B. The credit memo was created without reference to an invoice.

Incorrect : Whether or not the credit memo references an invoice does not directly affect the application of payment terms. Payment terms are determined based on the configuration and settings of the credit memo itself, not its relationship to an invoice. While referencing an invoice may influence other aspects of the credit memo, it does not explain why payment terms are ignored.

Reference : The absence of an invoice reference impacts reconciliation but does not inherently prevent the use of payment terms.

C. The field "Reference" of the credit memo is blank.

Incorrect : The "Reference" field in a credit memo is used for informational purposes, such as linking the document to external references or internal identifiers. Leaving this field blank does not affect the application of payment terms. The system determines payment terms based on configuration and document settings, not the content of the "Reference" field.

Reference : The "Reference" field is optional and does not influence payment term processing.

Key References to SAP Documentation:

SAP S/4HANA Finance for Accounts Receivable and Payable : Explains how payment terms are applied in AR/AP processes and why they may be ignored in FI.

SAP Help Portal - Payment Terms Configuration : Provides detailed guidance on how payment terms are calculated and why they may be disregarded in certain scenarios.

Credit Memo Processing in Financial Accounting : Highlights the differences between credit memo processing in FI versus AR/AP.

Due Date Calculation in SAP S/4HANA : Describes how due dates are determined and the conditions under which payment terms are ignored.