Instalment Schedules

Instalment schedules allow you to split one invoice amount into multiple GoCardless payments. In this article we will go through the following:

Collecting an invoice via instalments
Retrying failed payments within an instalment schedule
Cancelling an instalment schedule
Instalment schedules and automation settings

Please note: If you have questions about the tax implications of raising an invoice and collecting payments over time, please speak to your accountant.

1. Collecting an invoice via instalments

Navigate to the invoices tab on your GoCardless for Xero dashboard
Click on the Collect... button for the invoice you would like to split into instalments, then select split into instalments
On the pop up that appears you are able to choose whether you would like to split the invoice into a specific number of instalments or specify the amount of the instalments
The next step is to choose the date for the first payment to be collected - if you select the current day, the first payment will be charged as soon as possible according to scheme timings
After this, you will need to choose the frequency at which to collect the payments
The details of the payments to be collected will be displayed on the right hand side of the pop up. Check that the details are correct, and adjust the settings if needed
Click Create instalment schedule
The status of the invoice will be updated to show you the number of outstanding instalments
Your customer will receive an email informing them of the schedule of instalment payments that are due to be collected from them.

2. Retrying failed payments within an instalment schedule

Navigate to the failed invoice and click manage on the right hand side
The details of the instalment schedule will be displayed and you will see the failed payment
Click retry for any instalment you wish to be retried. This will retry the payment as soon as possible according to scheme timelines.

3. Cancelling an instalment schedule

Navigate to the invoice you wish to cancel via the invoices tab of the GoCardless for Xero dashboard
Click manage to view the details of the instalment schedule
Click on Cancel instalment schedule to cancel the upcoming payments in the schedule
A pop up will open, asking you to confirm that this is the action you wish to take. Click on Yes, cancel this instalment schedule to cancel the upcoming payments

Please note: Any payments that have been submitted will not be cancelled and will still be collected from your customer. If any of the payments are submitted when the schedule is cancelled you will not be able to reattempt the collection until the payments have been marked as confirmed or failed.