In NetSuite, once a subsidiary is created, its country field becomes non-editable due to the implications it has on tax nexus, currency, and legal reporting requirements. So when a subsidiary changes its physical location to a different country, you cannot simply update the country field—you must handle it through a structured process.
As per SuiteAnswer #99642 Subsidiary Record Fields Unavailable for Edits:
We cannot edit the following fields or change their selection state in the parent subsidiary. If we must change the values and states of these fields, we must delete or inactivate the record and create a new record with the updated values.
- Always Display Subsidiary Name state
- Subsidiary Logo (Forms)
- Subsidiary Logo (Pages)
- Web Site (URL)
- Country
- Legal Name
- Return Email Address
- Fax (number)
- Elimination state
- Currency
- Edition
- Identification and tax numbers
- Enable Period End Journal Entries state
You cannot edit the following fields in a child subsidiary:
- Country
- Elimination state
- Currency
- Edition
- Enable Period End Journal Entries state
Alternate solution:
1. Create a New Subsidiary
- Set up a new subsidiary with the correct country.
- Ensure all relevant configurations (currency, tax nexus, legal reporting, etc.) are properly set up for the new location.
2. Transfer Balances and Open Transactions
- Transfer balances.
- For open transactions (e.g., sales orders, invoices), you may need to:Void or close them in the old subsidiary.
- Recreate them in the new subsidiary.
- Ensure accounting periods are open in both subsidiaries to facilitate the transfer.
3. Historical Data Handling
- The old subsidiary remains in the system for historical reporting and audit purposes.
- Do not delete the old subsidiary; instead, mark it inactive once all balances are cleared.
4. Communicate with Stakeholders
- Inform finance, tax, and compliance teams about the change.
- Update any integrations or reporting tools that reference the old subsidiary.
5. Documentation and Audit Trail
- Maintain clear documentation of the transition process.
- Ensure audit trails are preserved for compliance.