Waterfall payment method and credits

The Waterfall method is a simple way to apply payment to invoices, in which Sage Intacct applies payment to each line item of an invoice, until all line items have been paid. Waterfall is used in the application of credits to invoices.

To view this page, go to Accounts Receivable > All > Invoices and select Add (circle) next to Receive payments-New!.

Sage Intacct uses the Waterfall method to apply available credit automatically to one or more selected invoices.

The Waterfall method flows multiple credits as shown in the following diagram:

When applying multiple credits to an invoice at the same time, Sage Intacct applies the credits in the following order:

1. Matching entities: First, Sage Intacct applies the credits to lines in the invoice belonging to the same entity as the credits.
When selecting Limit AR credits to entity owners, Sage Intacct applies credits to the same entity only. If the entire credit can’t be applied, the credit remains outstanding until another transaction for that entity becomes available.
2. Inline
3. Advance payment
4. Overpayment
5. Negative invoice, or discount.
6. Adjustment

Using the Waterfall method, Sage Intacct applies credits in full, beginning at the first line of the invoice until the credits are fully applied and the invoice is paid.

In the following example, a credit of 210 units is applied to an invoice whose total is also 210 units. Sage Intacct applies 100 units of credit to line 1 of the invoice, which matches the 100 unit amount for line item 1. Sage Intacct then applies 50 units of credit to the 50 unit amount on the second line, and 60 units of credits to the 60 unit amount on the third line.

Invoice

Invoice line number	Amount
1	100.00
2	50.00
3	60.00
Total	210.00

Credit (credit amount 210.00)

Applied order	Line number	Amount	Balance
1	1	100.00	0.00
2	2	50.00	0.00
3	3	60.00	0.00

Using the Waterfall method, Sage Intacct applies credits beginning with the first line of the invoice, until the credit is consumed. Any additional payments or credits are applied to the next line of the invoice with a balance.

In the following example, the same invoice has a balance of 210 units. One credit of 140 units is applied to lines 1 and 2, with a balance of 10 units remaining on line 2. A payment is then applied to the remaining balance of 70: first to the 10 unit balance remaining on line 2, and next to the 60 unit balance on line 3. The invoice is fully paid after the partial credit and payment are applied.

Example invoice

Invoice line number	Amount
1	100.00
2	50.00
3	60.00
Total	210.00

Credit (credit amount 210.00)

Applied order	Line number	Amount	Balance
1	1	100.00	0.00
2	2	40.00	10.00

Payment (payment amount 70.00)

Applied order	Line number	Amount	Balance
1	2	10.00	0.00
2	3	60.00	0.00

Credit handling with the owning entity only

If your multi-entity company limits the application of credits to the owning entity only, then Sage Intacct applies credits to that entity only. If the entirety of the credit can't be applied, the credit remains outstanding until another transaction is recorded for that entity.

When you include negative inline credits in a transaction, all line items within the transaction must belong to the same entity..