Billing Configuration
This page is a reference for the smaller configuration objects that sit behind billing and invoicing. Most are set up once and rarely changed. Each section explains what the object does and lists its fields.
Billing Cycles
Section titled “Billing Cycles”A billing cycle controls when customers receive their invoices through the year. You can run monthly billing for standard accounts, quarterly for larger clients, or any schedule that suits you. Each cycle sets exactly which months trigger invoice generation, and you assign cycles to the right customers.
Cycle Details
Section titled “Cycle Details”This section contains the core configuration for the billing cycle, including the cycle name, subrun settings, and which months the cycle applies to.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Descriptive name for this billing cycle |
| Billing Subrun | Subrun identifier for this billing cycle in multirun environments |
| Months | Months when this billing cycle is active (multiple months can be selected) |
Service Charge Intervals
Section titled “Service Charge Intervals”A service charge interval controls the timing of recurring charges: whether they are billed monthly, quarterly, annually or on a custom schedule. Settings cover advance or arrears billing, calendar alignment (such as always charging on the 1st), and how the first period is handled. Features pick up an interval to match their contract terms.
Interval Name
Section titled “Interval Name”The name and short name used to identify this service charge interval throughout the system.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Service Charge Interval | Full name of the service charge interval |
| Service Charge Interval | Abbreviated name for the service charge interval |
| Service Charge Interval Availability | Availability status controlling whether this interval is offered for new features |
Charge Frequency
Section titled “Charge Frequency”Define how often charges occur, including the interval length, calendar alignment options, and equivalent days for billing calculations.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Interval Length | Number of time units between service charges |
| Interval Length Type | Unit type for the interval length (days, weeks, months, etc.) |
| Calendar Alignment | Day of month to align charges to for calendar-based intervals |
| Equivalent Number of Days | Number of days this interval represents for billing calculations |
| Non-covering Charge | Treat each interval occurrence as a standalone event charge with no pro-rating or discount plan allowances |
| Bank Holidays Only | Restrict this interval so service charges are only generated on dates in the Bank Holidays table |
Advance/Arrears Charging
Section titled “Advance/Arrears Charging”Configure whether charges are billed in advance or arrears, and specify the advance period length.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Advance Charge Length | Number of time units to charge in advance |
| Advance Charge Length Type | Unit type for the advance charge length |
Multiple/Initial Charges
Section titled “Multiple/Initial Charges”Set up multiple charges per interval and define special handling for initial charge periods and alignment.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Multiple Charges | Number of charges to apply per interval |
| Initial Multiple Charges | Number of charges to apply in the initial period |
| Initial Charge Length | Length of the initial charge period |
| Initial Charge Length Type | Unit type for the initial charge length |
| Skip Initial Alignment | Whether to skip calendar alignment for the initial charge period |
VAT Rates
Section titled “VAT Rates”A VAT rate holds a percentage, an identifying code, and a description of when to apply it. Rates can be hidden once they are no longer needed, keeping selection lists tidy. The platform also handles reverse charge VAT for reseller transactions where required.
VAT Rate
Section titled “VAT Rate”This section contains the core VAT rate percentage values that are applied to transactions. These rates determine how much VAT is calculated on different types of transactions within the system.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| VAT Rate | The percentage VAT rate to apply to transactions |
| Reverse VAT Rate | The percentage reverse VAT rate used for reverse charge calculations |
VAT Rate Details
Section titled “VAT Rate Details”This section contains the descriptive and administrative information about the VAT rate, including the code, description, and visibility settings. These details help identify and manage the VAT rate within the system.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| VAT Code | Code used to identify this VAT rate in the system |
| VAT Description | Description of when this VAT rate applies |
| VAT Invoice Message | Message to display on invoices for this VAT rate |
| Hidden | Controls whether this VAT rate is hidden from selection lists |
System Information
Section titled “System Information”| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Last Modified | Timestamp of the most recent modification to this VAT rate |
Currencies
Section titled “Currencies”Currencies define how monetary amounts appear throughout the platform. Each currency holds its name, symbol, and an HTML code for web display, so figures are formatted correctly on invoices, reports and customer portals. Currencies are platform-level settings, usually configured for you rather than changed day to day.
Currency Details
Section titled “Currency Details”Basic currency information including name and symbols.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Full name of the currency (e.g., "US Dollar") |
| Symbol | Currency symbol (e.g., "$", "€", "£") |
| HTML Code | HTML entity code for the currency symbol (e.g., "£") |
System Information
Section titled “System Information”| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Last Modified | Timestamp of the most recent modification to this currency |
| Created | Timestamp when this currency was created |
Billing Task Types
Section titled “Billing Task Types”A billing task type defines a kind of automated job the platform can run, such as invoice generation, CDR import or payment processing. Each type sets a processing priority, how many can run at once, and which other tasks must finish first. This keeps jobs running in the right order. See Billing Tasks for the jobs themselves.
Billing Task Type
Section titled “Billing Task Type”Configuration settings for billing task types, including task names, descriptions, and prerequisite relationships. These settings determine how billing tasks are organised and executed within the system.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Billing Task Type | Internal name identifier for the billing task type |
| Billing Task Type (Display) | Display name shown to users for this billing task type |
| Billing Task Type | Detailed description of what this billing task type does |
System Information
Section titled “System Information”| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Last Modified | Timestamp of the most recent modification to this billing task type |
| Created | Timestamp when this billing task type was created |
Invoice Files
Section titled “Invoice Files”An invoice file is a stored document linked to an invoice, most often the bill PDF. The platform generates these during billing and recreation, tracks their versions, and keeps them for secure download. You normally reach them through the invoice rather than directly.
Invoice File Details
Section titled “Invoice File Details”Information about files attached to invoices, including PDF bills, supplemental documents, and invoice-related attachments.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Invoice Amount | The total amount of the invoice when this file was generated |
| Generated Date | The date when this invoice file was generated |
| Status | Current status of the invoice file generation and storage |
| Delivery Status | Status of invoice file delivery to the customer |
System Information
Section titled “System Information”System-generated information about when this invoice file was created and last modified.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Last Modified | Timestamp of the most recent modification to this invoice file |
| Created | Timestamp when this invoice file was created |
Invoice Usage Report Files
Section titled “Invoice Usage Report Files”An invoice usage report file is the stored usage report produced alongside an invoice, based on the customer’s invoice usage report profile. Like invoice files, these are generated automatically and downloaded through the invoice.
Invoice Usage Report File Details
Section titled “Invoice Usage Report File Details”This section contains the details of the invoice usage report file attachment including the profile used for generation, associated invoice, and file download information.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Invoice Usage Report Profile | The usage report profile used to generate this file |
| Status | Current processing status of the usage report file |
| Filename | The original filename of the usage report file |
System Information
Section titled “System Information”System-maintained information including creation and modification timestamps for audit purposes.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Last Modified | Timestamp of the most recent modification to this invoice usage report file |
| Created | Timestamp when this invoice usage report file was created |
Related
Section titled “Related”- Billing Run: uses billing cycles and queues billing tasks.
- Billing Tasks: the jobs that billing task types describe.
- Invoice Usage Reports: the profiles behind usage report files.
- Transaction Types and Feature Types: related configuration objects.
Need billing that bends to your schedules, tax rules and contract terms? see how flexible SAFE Billing Platform configuration can be