When you receive payments through a payment processor like Stripe, Mollie, PayPal, or similar platforms, the amount that reaches your bank account is often less than the full invoice amount. This happens because the platform deducts a processing fee before transferring the money to you.
This article covers how to record gross income, log platform fees as expenses, and link the net payment to the correct invoice in Accountable.
1. Record the full (gross) income
Even if you only receive the net amount, you must still record the full invoice total (before fees) as revenue.
In Accountable:
Enter the full invoice under the "Sales of goods" or "Sales of services" category.
This accurately reflects your gross income, as required by tax authorities.
2. Record the payment platform fees separately
The fees retained by Stripe, Mollie, or other platforms must be recorded as an expense.
You can categorise these under:
"Other fees"
These fees are usually easy to find in the monthly reports or statements from the payment platform.
If you’re unsure where to find them, don’t hesitate to contact their support team.
3. Link the net payment to the invoice (the amount you actually received)
When the reduced amount lands in your bank account:
Link the bank transaction to the full invoice in Accountable.
The amount won't match the invoice exactly, but since the platform fee was recorded separately, your accounting remains clear and accurate.
Example:
Say you issue an invoice for €100 through Stripe.
Stripe charges €20 in fees, and you receive €80 in your bank account.
In Accountable, you do the following:
Record €100 as revenue
Record a €20 business expense (under "Interest & Bank charges")
Link the €80 bank transaction to the €100 invoice
This method gives you a clear view of your gross income, with transparent and compliant bookkeeping.
Summary
Step | Explanation |
1. Record gross income | Even if you only receive the net amount, record the full invoice total (before fees) as revenue, under "Sales of goods" or "Sales of services". This reflects your gross income as required by tax authorities. |
2. Record platform fees separately | Record the fees retained by the payment platform (Stripe, Mollie, PayPal, etc.) as an expense, under "Other fees". You can find these fees in the platform's monthly reports or statements. |
3. Link the net payment to the invoice | When the net amount arrives in your bank account, link the bank transaction to the full invoice in Accountable. The linked amount won't match your revenue exactly, but that is completely normal since the fees are recorded as an expense. |
Key takeaways
Always record the full invoice amount as revenue, even if you only receive the net amount in your bank account.
Log payment platform fees (Stripe, Mollie, PayPal, etc.) as a separate business expense under "Other fees".
Link the net bank transaction to the full invoice in Accountable, the amount difference is expected and accounted for by the fee expense.
Need help? Chat with us or email support@accountable.eu, we're happy to help.