Netsuite integration guide

Deel can connect to and sync data with NetSuite using the dedicated integration. This article explains how to configure Deel and NetSuite so that you can sync data between them.

In this article

Here’s what you’ll find in this article:

• Before you begin
• Connecting the integration
  • Step 1: Install the app
  • Step 2: Assign a Deel role to a user
  • Step 3: Enable features
  • Step 4: Conclude the NetSuite setup
  • Step 5: Customize the integration
• Configuring the integration
  • Step 1: Configure the vendor management plugin
  • Step 2: Configure the bill (invoice) sync plugin
  • Step 3: Advanced settings for Bill (invoice) Sync
  • Configure the document sync plugin
• Syncing data
• Additional settings
• NetSuite integration reference

Before you begin

To successfully set up the NetSuite integration, you’ll need:

• A user with an admin role on Deel
• A user with an admin role on NetSuite
• To be logged into NetSuite with the admin role
• (Optional) A mapped expense account, if you want to sync invoices

We recommend that you check the NetSuite integration reference to understand the features and limitations of the integration before following this guide.

Testing the integration

You can connect your Deel production account to your NetSuite sandbox tenant to test the integration with real data before going live.

Connecting the integration

In this section, we’ll guide you through how to connect Deel to NetSuite.

Installing the Deel for NetSuite SuiteApp automatically creates a Deel user role you can assign to an employee account.

Step 1: Install the app

1. Go to More > Apps and search for NetSuite.

2. On the NetSuite integration page, click Connect NetSuite.

3. Click Install in NetSuite to install the Deel App for Global Payroll from the SuiteApp marketplace. 

Step 2: Assign a Deel role to a user

1. In NetSuite, use the search bar to locate the employee profile linked to the user.
2. Open the employee’s profile page and click Edit.
3. Navigate to Access > Roles and add the Deel role.
4. Click +Add and then Save.

After saving, we recommend you check the Access tab again to confirm the role was attributed.

Step 3: Enable features

• REST Web Services
• OAuth 2.0
• Server SuiteScript

1. In the top menu of the NetSuite dashboard, navigate to Setup, Company, then Enable Features.
2. Go to the SuiteCloud tab.
3. Search for REST Web Services, OAuth 2.0, and Server SuiteScript on the page and check the box to enable each one.
4. Disable SAML Single Sign-on.

The SAML Sign-on option must be disabled for OAuth2 to work.

5.  Click Save.

Step 4: Conclude the NetSuite setup

After double-checking that your setup is correct and complete:

1. Log out of NetSuite. 
2. Return to the Deel dashboard.
3. Click Connect to NetSuite. You are directed to the NetSuite login page again.

4. Log in to NetSuite as an admin. 

   You are directed to a screen prompting you to approve access for the application.

5. Click Choose another role and search for the Deel role you configured previously.
6. Click Choose role to confirm.
7. Click Continue. If the authorization is successful, NetSuite will close automatically. 

Step 5: Customize the integration

1. Go back to your Deel dashboard. 
2. On the Expense representation step, select how you want invoice items to appear in NetSuite: as Expenses or Items. Click Continue.
3. Select from the dropdowns both:
   • The Deel entity to which you want to map your NetSuite subsidiary. 
   • The NetSuite subsidiary to map to your Deel entity.

You can only select one entity towards which to map. The entity cannot be changed after setup. To set a different entity, you must disable the integration and start the setup over again.

4. Map your invoice items to your NetSuite accounts.
5. (Optional) Configure advanced mapping settings. This allows you to add more granularity to the mappings by including logic for different types of expenses, custom segments, and Tracking Categories. 

Within Tracking Categories, you can map custom LIST-type fields to supported Deel fields, configure parent–child classifications (e.g., Class → Subclass), and define override rules to control which value is sent to NetSuite. New LIST fields added in NetSuite become available in the mapping UI automatically, without any engineering changes.

6. Define General Settings. 

   You can set auto-sync for:

   • Vendors
   • New invoices to NetSuite each time an employee is paid.
   • Invoice documents in your default folder in NetSuite (the default folder must be defined)
   • Invoice attachment in your default folder in NetSuite (the default folder must be defined)

We recommend leaving Vendors auto-sync turned on so that Deel finds a matching vendor/supplier in NetSuite and syncs your invoices there. If no matching vendor is found, one will be created automatically.

You can also set your default payment account for each currency. When a payment is made via bank transfer or with a saved payment method that is not mapped to a payment account, the default account will be used. 

7. Click Continue to conclude the integration setup.

After connecting the integration, plugins will be automatically activated for configuration based on the contract type in your NetSuite.

Configuring the integration

In this section, we’ll guide you through configuring the integration so that data can sync successfully.

Payment Sync Plugin

Map your saved payment methods in Deel to payment accounts in your accounting system. This allows invoice payments to sync automatically and be marked as paid once reconciled.

Requirements

• At least one invoice synced and ready for payment

Setup Steps

1. From the accounting system integration page, go to Plugins Settings
2. Click Payment Sync
3. Select a currency from the dropdown
4. Choose the default payment account for that currency (this account will be used for any payments not mapped to a specific method)
5. (Optional) Map individual saved payment methods to specific payment accounts by clicking Add mapping and selecting:
   • The payment method from Deel
   • The corresponding payment account in your accounting system
6. Repeat step 5 for each currency if operating in multiple currencies
7. Click Enable or Save to activate the plugin

Invoice payments will now sync to your accounting system and be marked as paid automatically.

Document Sync Plugin

Automatically sync invoice PDFs and expense attachment files from Deel to your accounting system for record-keeping and audit purposes.

Setup Steps

1. From the accounting system integration page, go to Plugin Settings
2. Click Document Sync
3. Toggle on both:
   • Sync invoice PDF
   • Sync invoice attachment files
4. Click Enable or Save

Invoice PDFs will sync directly to the invoice entry in your accounting system, typically in a "Files" or "Documents" tab.

NetSuite-Specific Step: Select Default Folder

After toggling on both sync options:

5. Select a default folder from your NetSuite environment where documents will be stored.
6. Click Enable.

Vendor Management Plugin

Link contractors, Deel entities, and EOR vendors from Deel to vendors/suppliers in your accounting system so that invoices sync to the correct place.

Requirements

• At least one vendor or contractor in Deel

Link Vendors

1. From the accounting system integration page, go to Plugins Settings
2. Click Vendor Management
3. Select a vendor-linking approach:
   • Email-based matching (recommended): Deel automatically matches Deel vendors to existing vendors in your accounting system by email address. If no match is found, a new vendor is created automatically.
4. Click View List to see all unlinked vendors/contractors
5. Select the vendors to link (or select all to bulk link)
6. Click Link to Vendors (Deel will match or create vendors automatically)
7. Click Apply

Assign Deel Entity Vendor

For invoices issued directly by Deel:

8. In the Vendor Management section, find Deel Vendor Management
9. Select the vendor to be used for invoices issued directly by Deel (billing invoices)
10. Click Apply

Contractors will appear as individual vendors in your accounting system; Deel invoices will sync to the designated Deel vendor.

Optional: Use a Single Vendor for all EOR Invoices

Simplify EOR accounting by having all EOR invoices sync through a single Deel vendor instead of creating a vendor per country.

1. From the accounting system integration page, go to Plugin Settings
2. Click Vendor Management (or navigate to the EOR module settings)
3. Find the option "Use a single vendor for EOR invoices"
4. Toggle it on
5. Select the Deel vendor to represent all EOR invoices (typically "Deel Inc" or a parent entity)
6. Click Apply

Bill (Invoice) Sync Plugin

Automatically sync invoices and bill payments from Deel to your accounting system so they're recorded in your books and matched to contractors/vendors.

Set Up Expense Account Mapping

1. From the accounting system integration page, go to Plugins Settings
2. Click Bill (Invoice) Sync
3. Set up expense account mapping:
   • Option 1 – Simple (One Account For All): Select a single default expense account from the dropdown to use for all invoices
   • Option 2 – Advanced: Click Start Mapping and map different accounting system expense accounts to match different Deel invoice types (e.g., time-based work, expenses, milestones)
4. Click Continue or Save

Enable Auto-Sync (Optional)

5. Look for "Auto invoice sync" or a similar option
6. Toggle on to automatically sync invoices each time workers are paid
7. Toggle off if you prefer to manually sync invoices

Sync Past Invoices (Optional)

7. Find the "Unsynced Invoices" section
8. Select the invoices you want to sync (select all, or individually)
9. Click Sync Invoices
10. Click Enable or Save to activate the plugin

Invoices will sync to your accounting system and be linked to the correct expense accounts and vendors.

Advanced Settings (Optional)

The following settings allow you to customize how invoices sync to your accounting system. These are optional but recommended for organizations with complex expense structures or multi-currency operations.

Common Advanced Options

• Summarize Invoices: Merge all line items from a single Deel invoice into one combined line item in your accounting system. This consolidates time-based work, expenses, and milestone payments into a single entry.
• Currency Settings: Specify the default currency for syncing invoices and payments (important in multi-currency environments).
• Invoice Date Selection: Choose whether to use the invoice issue date or payment date as the bill date in your accounting system.
• Approval Status: Set whether synced invoices appear as "Approved" or "Pending Approval" by default.

Default Categories

Define default values that will automatically apply to synced invoices:

• Subsidiary: Set to the NetSuite subsidiary you choose (e.g., "Honeycomb Holdings Inc.")
• Account Payable: Set to the default Accounts Payable account
• Bill Payment Department: Set a default department for bill payments
• Tax Code: Set a default tax code if no specific tax is otherwise mapped

Custom LIST Fields

Map custom fields configured in your NetSuite account to Deel fields:

• Custom LIST-type fields configured in NetSuite appear automatically in the Tracking Category mapping UI
• Map these fields to any supported Deel field
• Define override rules to control which value is sent to NetSuite for a given invoice
• Parent–child classifications (e.g., Class → Subclass) are supported

Advanced Bill Configurations

• Bill Approval Status: Include the approval status on the synced bill in NetSuite
• Bill Exchange Rate: Choose whether to include the bill exchange rate on the synced bill, or let NetSuite handle it independently

Syncing data

Automatic syncs occur daily, one way from Deel to NetSuite, but you can manually trigger a sync:

• If you’ve made important changes and need them to sync immediately
• If you notice missing data or errors, that suggests that the last sync didn’t complete correctly

To sync data, go to the NetSuite integration page and click Sync NetSuite. 

Recent changes in employee data will be synced from Deel to NetSuite.

Additional settings

In this section, we’ll guide you through any additional configuration that goes beyond the basic setup and usage.

Configure email notifications

Steps on how to configure email notifications.

1. Click the bell icon in the upper-right corner of the Deel dashboard. A list of your notifications appears.
2. Go to Categories.
3. Click Accounting Integration notifications.
4. Turn on email and activate daily summary.

Email notifications are configured, and you will receive real-time notifications on your integration.

NetSuite integration reference

This section provides information about the capabilities and limitations of the integration. You can use it to understand whether the integration can sync the data you need to sync.

Supported contract types

The NetSuite integration supports the following contract types:

• Independent contractor
• Employer of record (EOR)
• Deel Shield (Contractor of Record)
• Professional Employer Organization (PEO)
• Global Payroll and US Payroll

Supported sync entities

The NetSuite integration supports the sync of the following entities:

• Invoices (Not supported for Global Payroll)

All invoice types are supported, including Deel IT invoices. Deel IT invoices sync via the consolidated accounting flow. If Deel IT invoices are not appearing in your sync, manually trigger a sync from the NetSuite integration page or contact support.

• Journal entries
• Compensation info
• Documents
• Custom expense categories and Tracking Categories (invoice lines), including custom LIST-type fields with parent–child classification support (e.g., Class → Subclass). New LIST fields added in NetSuite become available for mapping automatically.

Troubleshooting

This section includes instructions and workarounds to troubleshoot common issues.

Syncing unsynced invoices

Invoices may not sync when there’s an issue with their format or have missing values.

To sync any unsynced invoices:

1. Go to the Sync History tab and click Details on an invoice.
2. In the invoice popup modal, review the error message to address it.
3. Click Sync again.