Sale or authorization: when to charge the card

Transaction type in the gateway settings decides when the customer is charged. It applies to new orders only.

Sale

The money is taken at checkout and the order moves to Processing. This is the default.

Authorization

The amount is held on the customer’s card but not taken, and the order is put On hold. You take the money later by capturing it from the order screen.

Use it when you do not know the final amount at checkout, or when you only charge once goods are ready. Examples are bookings with a deposit, made-to-order goods and items that may be out of stock.

Authorizations expire

You must capture the payment to be paid. The hold ends by itself after a few days and the money goes back to the customer. The number of days depends on the card issuer.

The PowerTranz panel on the order shows how much is held and reminds you to capture it.

What the customer sees

After an authorization, the order received page tells the customer their card has been authorized and the funds are held, but they have not been charged yet.

Capturing and releasing

• Capture takes the held money. You can capture all of it or part of it.
• Void releases the hold without taking anything. A void is always for the full amount.

See capturing and voiding authorizations.