Learn Anatomy of a Checkout

Lesson 7 of 13

Cash capture.

How finance proves every order was paid: matching deposits to orders, and working the exceptions.

By Nagesh Koritala 4 min read Last verified: November 2026

  1. Lesson 1: Improve the checkout
  2. Lesson 2: The checkout flow
  3. Lesson 3: Authorization
  4. Lesson 4: Payment states
  5. Lesson 5: Capture
  6. Lesson 6: Clearing and settlement
  7. Lesson 7: Cash capture (this lesson)
  8. Lesson 8: Returns and refunds
  9. Lesson 9: Disputes
  10. Lesson 10: Tokens and stored credentials
  11. Lesson 11: Transaction types
  12. Lesson 12: Complete reference
  13. Lesson 13: Payments compliance
All 16 pages in this guide
  1. Improve the checkout
  2. The checkout flow
  3. Authorization
  4. Payment states
  5. Capture
  6. Clearing and settlement
  7. Cash capture
  8. Returns and refunds
  9. Disputes
  10. Tokens and stored credentials
  11. Transaction types
  12. Complete reference
  13. Payments compliance
  14. Follow one order
  15. Where it breaks
  16. Payments dictionary

A deposit lands in the bank. It is one number, say $41,872.19, and it covers hundreds of orders, minus fees, minus refunds, minus any chargebacks. Finance has to prove every order inside it was paid. This is reconciliation, and the accounting step that clears each receivable is called cash application.

The key that makes this possible is the transaction ID. If your order record stores the gateway's payment ID for every authorization, capture, and refund, the match is automatic. If it does not, someone in finance matches by amount and date by hand. That is the moment a checkout design decision becomes an operating cost.

Sources for this guide

Card network rules change. Time limits, fees, and authorization windows here reflect published rules and provider documentation as of late 2026; confirm details with your processor before you build against them.

Sources

Your progress stays on this device.

Next: Lesson 8

Returns and refunds.

The return workflow, and how to choose between a void, a reversal, and a refund.

Questions about payments? Email me. I read every note.

Returns and refunds: a parcel goes back and the money comes back the same way. Refund void, reversal, or refund