Record a payment (money received)
How to record income, customer payments, and any other money coming into your business.
Money coming in!
The best kind of transaction to record.
Someone paid you. A client, a customer, a platform, your rich uncle. However the money arrived, Acctally needs to know about it so your books stay accurate and your reports make sense.
The 30-second version
Click + New → Choose "I received money" → Fill in the details → Done ✓
That's really it. But let's break down what each field means so you can record payments like a pro.
What Acctally asks you
When you click "I received money," you'll see a form. Here's what each part means:
How much?
The amount that actually landed in your account. If someone paid $1,000 but you received $980 after fees, enter what you received.
Where did it land?
Which of your accounts received the money? Your main bank account? Petty cash? A mobile money wallet?
Who paid you?
The person or company that sent the money. You can pick from existing contacts or type a new name. Acctally remembers them for next time.
What was it for?
Pick a category that describes the income. "Consulting Services," "Product Sales," "Subscription Revenue." This determines how it shows in your reports.
When did it happen?
The date the money actually arrived. This affects which reporting period it belongs to and any tax calculations.
Optional extras
These aren't required, but they make your records more useful:
- Reference number — Invoice number, check number, or transaction ID from your bank
- Description — Any notes for yourself ("Final payment for website project")
- Attachment — Upload a receipt, invoice, or bank statement screenshot
- Link to invoice — If you sent an invoice in Acctally, connect them
Real examples
Let's see how OurHaven (a Nigerian service company offering meal plans, laundry, and home cleaning) records different types of payments:
Customer pays via Paystack for meal plan
(With Paystack connected, this syncs automatically from app orders!)
Bank transfer for laundry service
Cash payment for home cleaning
Rider collected cash on delivery
What happens after you save?
Your bank account balance increases
The money account you selected now shows more money
Your income reports update
Dashboards, P&L, everything reflects the new revenue
Tax is calculated (if applicable)
VAT, sales tax, WHT — based on your category and jurisdiction
Journal entries are created
The accounting magic happens automatically (you don't need to see it)
Quick tips
Use keyboard shortcuts
Press N then P to quickly start a new payment
Create contacts first
If you receive regular payments from the same people, set them up as contacts
Connect your bank
Many payments can be imported automatically instead of manual entry
Record as you go
Don't let payments pile up. Recording while it's fresh means better accuracy
Next steps
Learn how to record an expense (money going out), or see what happens after you record to understand the full flow.