> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.tahua.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.tahua.io/knowledge-base/administrator-help-guides/payments/payments-overview.md).

# Payments Overview

Get a high level understanding of Payments in Tahua and how they work.

Tahua provides the ability to track three main types of Payments outlined below:

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### Milestone Payments

Milestone Payments are Payments that are associated with a Milestone in Tahua. These are typically used as draw down (progress) payments on an approved grant amount of an Application.

Milestone Payments are created within the Payment Batch wizard on Step 2 by clicking on Add Milestone, where you can search for the Milestone to Pay.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/49pNEQ4fXNtxv0yJ5jgn/blobs/G8GNmcMSupWz87ZiqLsB/image%20png%20May%2004%202025%2008%2039%2011%201918%20AM.png)

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/49pNEQ4fXNtxv0yJ5jgn/blobs/pYCkYnDTO5Kl6MLsIdvd/image%20png%20May%2004%202025%2008%2039%2050%200147%20AM.png)

Once the Milestone is added you can specify the amount for Payment.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/49pNEQ4fXNtxv0yJ5jgn/blobs/um8wdNp49To83GY4pvVz/image%20png%20May%2004%202025%2008%2040%2032%201557%20AM.png)
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### Application Payments

Application Payments are associated with an Applications but do not have a Milestone attached to them. This can be useful where the Payments for an Application are not tied to a schedule e.g. paid in a lump sum.

Application Payments are created within the Payment Batch wizard on Step 2 by clicking on Add Application, where you can search for the Applications to Pay.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/49pNEQ4fXNtxv0yJ5jgn/blobs/uhuIxd9fVc2M7UmzrccD/image%20png%20May%2004%202025%2008%2043%2003%202775%20AM.png)
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### Contact Payments

Contact Payments are associated directly with a Contact in Tahua, these are useful when the payment does not have an Application record associated with it such as a donation directly to a recipient.

Contact Payments are created within the Payment Batch wizard on step 2 by clicking on the Contact big selector and then choosing the Contact(s) for payment.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/49pNEQ4fXNtxv0yJ5jgn/blobs/OnH693GCT76zBiHOtRn1/image%20png%20Sep%2017%202025%2012%2003%2033%202806%20AM.png)

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/49pNEQ4fXNtxv0yJ5jgn/blobs/waoqHV0foqqM8dPsAEx2/image%20png%20Sep%2017%202025%2012%2007%2005%204454%20AM.png)
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## Incoming Payments

Most Payments are **outgoing**: money your organisation pays out. If your organisation uses [Organisation-supplied Milestones](/knowledge-base/administrator-help-guides/milestones/organisation-supplied-milestones.md), Payments on those Milestones are **incoming** instead: money owed **to** your organisation by the Counterparty. They show an **Incoming** label in your Payment lists.

Incoming Payments are tracked in Tahua for your records only, so they behave differently from outgoing Payments:

* They **aren't synced to your accounting system as Bills** (Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB or Accredo), and payment status isn't pulled back from it. Record the Payment in Tahua yourself, either against the Milestone or by marking its Payment Batch as paid.
* They **can be added to a Payment Batch**, but they're **left out of the bank payment file** when you export the batch.
* The Counterparty **isn't notified** when they're approved or paid, and they **don't appear on the Counterparty's Payments page**.