Split a transaction for commission or charges deducted

How to record in FreeAgent if you receive an amount of money that's already had bank charges, payment processor charges, currency charges, commission, or subcontractor's CIS tax deducted.

It's fairly simple to split a transaction between more than one category in FreeAgent, though you may need to start by setting up one or more new categories.

But what happens if you receive an amount of money that's already had bank charges, fees from a payment processor such as PayPal, GoCardless, Stripe or Dwolla, currency charges, commission, or subcontractor's CIS tax deducted?

Let's take an example.

Customer paying net of payment processor charges

You've invoiced your customer for £126. But the money that comes into your bank account for that invoice is only £100, because your customer pays you through a payment processor, who deducts charges.

So how do you record that receipt so that you account for the charges and don't have your customer's amount permanently looking as though that customer still owes you £26 when they don't?

By splitting the Money In transaction.

1. Increase the amount of the invoice receipt

Select the transaction, then choose 'More Options (alternatively, you can hold down the 'alt' key on your keyboard while you select the transaction) to access the 'Edit a transaction' screen. As you explain the transaction with type Invoice Receipt, change the amount to the full amount of the invoice. So in this case I'd change the amount from £100...

...to £126.

Finish explaining the transaction as normal, choosing the correct invoice from the unpaid ones.

Create the new explanation.

2. FreeAgent automatically adds a new payment for the deduction

You'll see that FreeAgent has now put a new payment of £26 in, to make the accounts balance match the bank statement balance.

You now need to explain this as the deduction, which might be bank charges, commission paid, or tax. If you're explaining this payment as CIS tax then put it to PAYE/NIC if your business is a limited company, or drawings for a sole trader or partner.

In this case I'm explaining the £26 as bank charges, which is a type Payment and is in the Bank/Finance Charges category.

I'll explain the rest of the transaction as normal and then save it.

That's it. Job done.