Credit Note (Nota Kredit)

A credit note (Nota Kredit in Malay) is an adjustment document that reduces the monetary value of a previously issued and validated e-invoice. In the MyInvois framework, credit notes are the primary mechanism for correcting invoices after the 72-hour rejection window has passed — the period during which a buyer can reject an invoice directly within the MyInvois system. Once that window closes, any reduction in the invoiced amount must be handled through a formal credit note rather than invoice cancellation.

The most common situations requiring a credit note are: goods returns where the buyer sends back some or all of the delivered items and is entitled to a refund or reduction; overpayment corrections where the original invoice was billed at an incorrect (higher) price; post-delivery discounts or rebates agreed after the invoice was issued; and partial cancellations where a portion of the original invoice is no longer valid. In each case, the credit note references the original e-invoice by its UUID and reduces the total amount owed by the specified credit amount.

How to submit a credit note in MyInvois: a credit note is submitted as a separate document (not a modification of the original invoice) through the same channels — portal, API, or certified software. The credit note must reference the original invoice's UUID in the document reference field, specify the credit amount and the reason for the credit, include the applicable tax adjustments (SST credit where applicable), and be signed with the supplier's credentials. Once validated, the credit note receives its own UUID and updates the financial position between buyer and supplier.

The timing rules for credit notes are important for SST compliance. Credit notes that affect SST amounts must be issued and submitted within the applicable SST reporting period to ensure the tax adjustments are reflected in the correct period's SST return. Late credit notes can create reconciliation issues between the MyInvois records and the SST returns filed with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department. Businesses should process credit notes promptly when the triggering event (return, overpayment) occurs.

It is important to note that a credit note is not the same as a refund. A credit note is a document that reduces the outstanding amount owed; whether that reduction results in a cash refund, a credit against future invoices, or a set-off is a commercial arrangement between the buyer and seller separate from the MyInvois document. The e-invoicing system tracks the credit note as a financial adjustment to the original invoice, regardless of how the underlying payment settlement is handled.