--- name: "invoices_record_payment" area: "invoices" title: "Record a payment" price: "$0.01" method: "POST" url: "https://api.conecto.chat/v1/tools/invoices_record_payment" mcp_server: "https://api.conecto.chat/mcp/invoices" auth: "Authorization: Bearer " docs_url: "https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_record_payment" --- # Record a payment (`invoices_record_payment`) Records money received against a sent invoice, or a refund; the invoice becomes partially paid or paid. Record money received against a sent invoice: amount, date, method and reference. It becomes partially_paid, or paid when nothing is left. A payment can't be more than the balance, unless keep_excess keeps the rest as the customer's credit (an overpayment, like Xero's, for invoices_use_credit); a negative amount records a refund. When the account keeps books, it is posted to them. Price: $0.01 a call. A call that fails costs nothing. ## Use it when A customer paid by transfer, card or cash, or money went back to them. - For money back because goods came back or the price was wrong, use [invoices_create_credit_note](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_create_credit_note.md). - For a deposit before there is an invoice, use [invoices_record_prepayment](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_record_prepayment.md). ## Say this to your agent > Hotel Elbblick transferred 6,000 euros toward invoice INV-0042 today, reference RE-0042. ## Inputs | Name | Type | Required | Description | Allowed values | Default | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | `invoice_id` | string | yes | The invoice_id invoices_create returned (quotes and credit notes have one too). Exactly 36 characters. | | | | `amount` | number or string | yes | In the invoice's currency, e.g. "250.00". Negative for a refund. Up to 24 characters. | | | | `date` | string | no | When it was paid. Default today. Matches ^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$. | | | | `method` | string | no | | `"bank_transfer"`, `"card"`, `"cash"`, `"check"`, `"online"`, `"other"` | `"other"` | | `reference` | string | no | e.g. the bank transfer reference or the payment id. Up to 120 characters. | | | | `note` | string | no | Up to 500 characters. | | | | `keep_excess` | boolean | no | Paid more than the balance: keep the rest as the customer's credit. | | `false` | ## Example Written for Hansen & Voss, a restaurant-equipment wholesaler in Hamburg with 60 staff. MCP: call `invoices_record_payment` on the MCP server `https://api.conecto.chat/mcp/invoices` with these arguments: ```json { "invoice_id": "2d9c4e7b-1a3f-4c5d-8e6f-0b1a2c3d4e5f", "amount": "6000.00", "method": "bank_transfer", "reference": "RE-0042" } ``` REST: ```bash curl https://api.conecto.chat/v1/tools/invoices_record_payment \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $CONECTO_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"invoice_id": "2d9c4e7b-1a3f-4c5d-8e6f-0b1a2c3d4e5f", "amount": "6000.00", "method": "bank_transfer", "reference": "RE-0042"}' ``` ## Response ```json { "call_id": "5f0c8a2e-3b7d-4c1e-9a64-2d8e1f7b0c93", "tool": "invoices_record_payment", "status": "succeeded", "replayed": false, "cost_usd": "$0.01", "balance_usd": "$19.75", "result": { "invoice": { "invoice_id": "2d9c4e7b-1a3f-4c5d-8e6f-0b1a2c3d4e5f", "kind": "invoice", "number": "INV-0042", "status": "partially_paid", "currency": "EUR", "issue_date": "2026-10-14", "due_date": "2026-10-28", "overdue": false, "days_overdue": 0, "customer": { "contact_id": null, "company_id": null, "name": "Hotel Elbblick GmbH", "email": "lukas.meyer@hotel-elbblick.example", "address": "Elbchaussee 120\n22763 Hamburg", "tax_id": "", "country": null }, "total": "13887.30", "total_formatted": "€13,887.30", "amount_paid": "6000.00", "balance": "7887.30", "balance_formatted": "€7,887.30", "public_url": "https://cncto.co/i/z0YW4TSWlxT-bnbJvqs3SjStKE0kz4ky", "created_at": "2026-10-14T08:00:00+00:00", "sent_at": "2026-10-14T08:00:00+00:00", "credited": "0.00", "items": [ { "description": "Bistro chair, beech\nStackable, for terraces", "quantity": "40", "unit_price": "320", "tax_rate": "19", "discount_percent": "10", "amount": "12800.00", "discount": "1280.00", "tax": "2188.80", "total": "13708.80" }, { "description": "Delivery and setup", "quantity": "1", "unit_price": "150", "tax_rate": "19", "discount_percent": "0", "amount": "150.00", "discount": "0.00", "tax": "28.50", "total": "178.50" } ], "totals": { "subtotal": "12950.00", "subtotal_formatted": "€12,950.00", "discount": "1280.00", "discount_formatted": "€1,280.00", "tax": "2217.30", "tax_formatted": "€2,217.30", "total": "13887.30", "total_formatted": "€13,887.30", "credited": "0.00", "credited_formatted": "€0.00", "amount_paid": "6000.00", "amount_paid_formatted": "€6,000.00", "balance": "7887.30", "balance_formatted": "€7,887.30", "taxes": [ { "rate": "19", "base": "11670.00", "amount": "2217.30", "amount_formatted": "€2,217.30" } ] }, "supply": { "label": "Date of supply", "text": "October 14, 2026", "from": "2026-10-14", "until": "2026-10-14" }, "tax_exemption": null, "tax_note": null, "vat_exchange_rate": null, "national_vat": null, "e_invoice": null, "notes": "", "payment_link": null, "business": { "name": "Hansen & Voss GmbH", "address": "Billbrookdeich 112\n22113 Hamburg\nGermany", "tax_id": "DE123456789", "email": "billing@hansenvoss.example", "phone": "+49 40 66969 100", "logo_file_id": "", "footer": "Please pay by bank transfer to Hansen & Voss GmbH\nIBAN DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00, BIC COBADEFFXXX", "tax_label": "VAT", "paper": "a4", "country": "DE", "legal_notes": "Hansen & Voss GmbH, Amtsgericht Hamburg HRB 123456\nManaging directors: Clara Hansen, Henrik Voss", "document_language": "" }, "pdf": { "file_id": "8506d546-cf7e-4729-b619-dc28a816ffff", "name": "Invoice INV-0042.pdf", "content_type": "application/pdf", "size": "582 bytes", "size_bytes": 582, "sha256": "7a628ee1199dd863f0236a61a39b6729a977b4ea18a669e9930a57280cb2326e", "created_at": "2026-10-14T08:00:00+00:00", "download_url": "https://cncto.co/d/8506d546-cf7e-4729-b619-dc28a816ffff?t=eyJmIjoiODUwNmQ1NDYtY2Y3ZS00NzI5LWI2MTktZGMyOGE4MTZmZmZmIiwiZXhwIjoxNzkyMTYwODk3fQ:1xHMRN:7YBDRvq66SZ823JBQv2T3k_bEHE9Ih69-5tPA-bcuC8", "link_expires_in_hours": 24 }, "payments": [ { "payment_id": 4101, "amount": "6000.00", "amount_formatted": "€6,000.00", "date": "2026-10-14", "method": "bank_transfer", "reference": "RE-0042", "note": "", "recorded_at": "2026-10-14T08:00:00+00:00" } ], "quote_id": null, "credit_notes": [], "viewed_at": null, "accepted_at": null, "declined_at": null, "paid_at": null, "voided_at": null, "void_reason": null, "last_emailed_at": "2026-10-14T08:00:00+00:00", "reminders_sent": 0, "history": [ { "at": "2026-10-14T08:00:00+00:00", "event": "created", "detail": "", "by": "key 4101 (Pip)" }, { "at": "2026-10-14T08:00:00+00:00", "event": "sent", "detail": "INV-0042", "by": "key 4101 (Pip)" } ] }, "payment": { "payment_id": 4101, "amount": "6000.00", "amount_formatted": "€6,000.00", "date": "2026-10-14", "method": "bank_transfer", "reference": "RE-0042", "note": "", "recorded_at": "2026-10-14T08:00:00+00:00" } } } ``` `result`: invoice: the document with its new status, amount paid and balance; payment: the payment as recorded. ## Errors | Code | Status | When | Fix | |---|---|---|---| | `not_found` | 404 | No quote or invoice of the business has that invoice_id. | Find it with invoices_list and use its invoice_id. | | `not_an_invoice` | 400 | The id is a quote or a credit note. | Turn a quote into an invoice with invoices_convert_quote; a credit note records money back when it is issued. | | `not_sent` | 409 | The invoice is still a draft. | Send it with invoices_send first. | | `void` | 409 | The invoice is void. | Payments go on invoices that are not void. | | `already_paid` | 409 | The invoice is paid in full. | Nothing more can be recorded, except a refund. | | `more_than_balance` | 409 | The amount is more than the balance. | Record at most the balance, or keep the rest as the customer's credit with keep_excess. | | `more_than_paid` | 409 | The refund is more than what was paid. | Refund at most what was paid. | | `invalid_input` | 400 | The amount is 0 or not a number in the invoice's currency, or the date is in the future. | Send an amount like "250.00" and a date that has passed. | | `no_rate` | 409 | There is no exchange rate for the invoice's currency on that day. | Set a standing rate with books_setup rates. | | `rates_loading` | 503 | The day's exchange rates are still loading. | Try again in a few minutes. | | `before_start` | 409 | The date is before the books start. | Use a later date, or set an earlier start with books_setup. | | `period_locked` | 409 | The books are locked for that date. | Use a later date, or unlock the period with books_lock. | | `no_role` | 409 | The books have no account for a role the posting needs. | Give an account that role with books_save_accounts. | The refusals every tool can give (401 key, 402 balance, 429 limits) are on the errors page: https://conecto.chat/docs/errors.md ## Related - [invoices_set_profile](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_set_profile.md): Sets the business details on quotes and invoices: name, country, address, tax ID, logo, terms, tax, numbering, how to pay and legal notes. $0.001 a call. - [invoices_get_profile](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_get_profile.md): The business details on quotes and invoices, the next numbers, and what is missing before documents can be sent. Free up to 1,000,000 reads a month. - [invoices_connect_stripe](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_connect_stripe.md): Connects the business's own Stripe account with a restricted key, so invoices can be paid online; the money goes straight to the business. $0.001 a call. - [invoices_create](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_create.md): Creates a draft quote or invoice: the customer, the lines, the currency and the dates. $0.01 a call. - [invoices_update](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_update.md): Changes a draft quote or invoice; customer and lines replace the old ones. $0.01 a call. - [invoices_send](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_send.md): Sends a draft: it gets the next number, its PDF is made, and the customer is emailed a link to view, pay or accept it. $0.10 a call. - [invoices_get](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_get.md): One quote or invoice in full, by invoice_id or number: lines, totals, taxes, payments, history, its page and a fresh PDF link. Free up to 1,000,000 reads a month. - [invoices_list](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_list.md): Quotes and invoices, newest first, by kind, status (also overdue, unpaid and expired), customer and issue date. Free up to 1,000,000 reads a month. - [invoices_convert_quote](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_convert_quote.md): Turns an accepted quote into a draft invoice with the same customer and lines. $0.01 a call. - [invoices_record_prepayment](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_record_prepayment.md): Records a customer's deposit before there is an invoice, like Xero's prepayments; it waits as their credit, with its VAT owed at once. $0.01 a call. - [invoices_use_credit](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_use_credit.md): Puts a customer's credit on their invoice, like Xero's allocate credit, or pays it back to them. $0.01 a call. - [invoices_list_credits](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_list_credits.md): Lists customers' credits, deposits and overpayments, with what is left on each. Free up to 1,000,000 reads a month. - [invoices_remind](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_remind.md): Emails the customer a reminder about a sent invoice with a balance, at most once a day. $0.02 a call. - [invoices_remind_overdue](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_remind_overdue.md): Emails a reminder about every invoice at least some days overdue, the longest overdue first. $0.02 per reminder sent. - [invoices_set_expected_date](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_set_expected_date.md): Notes the day a customer says they will pay an invoice, so the cash flow forecast counts the money then, even when the invoice is overdue. Free. - [invoices_create_credit_note](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_create_credit_note.md): Corrects a sent invoice with a numbered credit note: all of it, some of its lines or an amount, emailed like an invoice. $0.10 a call. - [invoices_void](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_void.md): Voids a document: a sent one keeps its number but can no longer be paid or accepted; a draft is discarded. $0.01 a call. - [invoices_save_repeating](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_save_repeating.md): Makes an invoice again every so many weeks, months or years, drafted or sent on its day, with [Month] and [Year] filled in, like Xero's repeating invoices. $0.001 a call. - [invoices_list_repeating](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_list_repeating.md): Lists the repeating invoices: who each is for, how often, the next dates, and what each made. Free up to 1,000,000 reads a month. - [invoices_delete_repeating](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_delete_repeating.md): Stops a repeating invoice for good; the invoices it made stay. Free. - [invoices_statement](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_statement.md): Makes a customer statement, outstanding or activity, as a PDF, and emails it when asked, like Xero's statements. $0.05 a call. - [invoices_summary](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_summary.md): What customers owe, per currency: outstanding, overdue and paid this month, and the quotes still open. Free up to 1,000,000 reads a month. - [invoices_report](https://conecto.chat/tools/invoices/invoices_report.md): Aged receivables on any day, or sales per customer for a period with the credit notes taken off. Free up to 1,000,000 reads a month.