> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/llms.txt).

# Mark a bill as paid

Record a bill you paid outside your uploaded statements, such as a check or cash, so ZeraBooks knows it's settled. It records the payment; it doesn't send one.

## When to use Mark as Paid

ZeraBooks doesn't pay bills. **Mark as Paid…** records a payment you already made somewhere else, when that payment won't show up on a statement you upload: a check from an account you don't track here, cash, or a payment from the owner's personal card.

If the payment is on a bank or card statement you upload, don't mark the bill as paid. Match the statement transaction instead, so the money is only counted once. See [Match a bill to its bank payment](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/bills/match-a-bill-to-its-payment).

## Mark a bill as paid

1. Open the bill.
   - For a bill in **Awaiting Payment**, click the **⋮** menu and choose **Mark as Paid…**
   - For a bill still in **In Review**, click the arrow beside **Approve Bill** and choose **Mark as Paid…** ZeraBooks approves the bill first, then records the payment.
2. Set the **Payment Date**. It starts on the bill's own date.
3. Choose the **Pay Out Category**: the account the money came out of, such as a bank account, a credit card or the owner's equity account.
4. Optionally add a **Reference No.**, such as `Check #1234`, and an **Internal Memo**.
5. Click **Mark as Paid**.

![The Mark as Paid dialog: payment date, the account it was paid from, an optional reference and memo, for payments made outside the uploaded statements](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/shots/bills-mark-as-paid.png)

The whole remaining balance is recorded as paid on that date. The bill shows **Marked as Paid** with the date and moves to **Scheduled & Paid**.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Tip:** If ZeraBooks finds that the payment is already in your books when it approves a draft, it applies that payment instead and tells you: "The payment already in your books was applied to this bill."
{% endhint %}

## Undo it

Open the bill's **Settlement** panel (click **Go to Payment** on the bill) and click **Release** on the payment marked **Recorded outside ZeraBooks**. The recorded payment is removed and the bill is owed again.

## Frequently Asked Questions

<details>
<summary>Does Mark as Paid send money to my vendor?</summary>

No. ZeraBooks never sends or moves money. Clicking **Mark as Paid** confirms that you already paid the vendor outside ZeraBooks, and records it in your books.
</details>

<details>
<summary>How do I record a check I wrote for a bill?</summary>

If the check clears on a bank statement you upload, match it from the bill's **Settlement** panel. If it came from an account you don't upload, use **Mark as Paid…** and put the check number in **Reference No.**
</details>

<details>
<summary>Can I undo Mark as Paid?</summary>

Yes. Open the bill's settlements and click **Release** on the payment recorded outside ZeraBooks. The bill goes back to owing.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Why is Mark as Paid greyed out?</summary>

It isn't available for bills in a foreign currency yet: the menu reads "Not yet available for foreign-currency documents". Match the payment from the bill's **Settlement** panel instead. It's also hidden once nothing is left to pay.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Can I mark part of a bill as paid?</summary>

No. **Mark as Paid…** records the whole remaining balance. For part of a bill, match the partial payment from a statement and choose **Apply as partial**.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Why is the Mark as Paid button disabled in the dialog?</summary>

Choose a **Pay Out Category** first. The button stays disabled until you pick the account the payment came from.
</details>

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