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Gateway reconciliation

Reconcile WooCommerce payment gateways in Xero without pretending every deposit is a sale

Card processors, PayPal and manual methods create different timing and settlement evidence. ClearCommerce keeps the WooCommerce payment method visible so each method can be mapped to the Xero treatment that fits it.

The reconciliation problem has three dates

A WooCommerce order can be created on one day, payment captured on another and the processor settlement paid to the bank later. If accounting uses only the bank deposit date, sales timing becomes distorted. If it uses only the order date, the clearing balance may not match captured payments.

Start by separating the payment methods

Do not put every gateway into one generic bucket unless the business deliberately wants that. Stripe, PayPal, other card processors and BACS can be given different Xero accounts or posting behaviour.

Then reconcile each method on its own evidence

The ecommerce summary provides the gross activity. Processor settlements and fees explain movement out of the clearing account. Manual methods can remain unpaid until the bank receipt proves settlement.

Different methods, different jobs

Do not force one rule across every checkout option

Stripe or card gateway

Usually suited to a clearing account because captured payments and net payouts occur at different times.

Stripe reconciliation

PayPal

Keep PayPal activity identifiable so refunds, retained balances and transfers are not confused with card settlements.

PayPal reconciliation

BACS

For trade orders, an unpaid Xero invoice can be more useful than treating an unconfirmed bank transfer as paid.

BACS invoices
Questions

WooCommerce gateway reconciliation FAQs

Why does a gateway payout differ from WooCommerce sales?

The payout may cover a different date range and can include fees, refunds or adjustments. Gross ecommerce activity and net bank settlement are different accounting records.

Can payment methods map to different Xero clearing accounts?

Yes. Payment-method handling is configuration, not a hardcoded platform rule.

Does a daily sales summary remove the need for gateway reconciliation?

No. The summary records sales cleanly; the clearing account still needs to be matched against the processor's later settlements.

Worked example

A £4,180 Saturday, three gateways, one bank deposit

A single trading day rarely settles as one number. Here is how one WooCommerce store's Saturday broke down before it reached the bank.

What WooCommerce recorded

  • 142 orders captured across Stripe, PayPal and a manual card terminal
  • £3,910 in card and wallet payments, £270 in manual bank transfers
  • £96 already refunded against Thursday's orders

What hit the bank three days later

  • Stripe payout of £2,640 net of £74 in processing fees
  • PayPal payout of £1,090 net of £31 in fees
  • Manual transfers arriving individually, matched to their own orders

Bring the gateway statement and a sample sales day

We can show how the payment mapping, daily summary and clearing balances should fit together before live posting.

Book a mapping review