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# Split a payment across bills or invoices
When one deposit pays several invoices, or one payment covers several bills, split the bank transaction across them so each balance is settled.
## Before you start
Customers often pay two or more invoices with one transfer, and you may pay several bills from the same vendor at once. The bank shows one amount; your books need to know which bills or invoices it settled.
The bank transaction needs a party: the customer who paid you, or the vendor you paid. If it has none, ZeraBooks says "Assign this transaction to a customer before splitting it. ZeraBooks will not guess who the money belongs to." (or "vendor" for a payment you made). Set the party first.
## Split the payment
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{% step %}
### Open the transaction
In the left navigation, click **Accounting** › **Ledger** (or **Banks & Cards**), then click the bank transaction. Switch to **Edit** at the top.
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### Open Document settlement
Under **Document settlement**, click **Match to invoices** for money you received, or **Match to bills** for money you paid. ZeraBooks lists the open balances for that party.
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### Enter the amount for each document
Under **Apply this transaction**, type how much of the payment belongs to each bill or invoice, or click **Max** to use as much as it can take. The summary shows the **Transaction** amount, what's **Already linked** and what's still **Available**.
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### Review and apply
Check **Review this payment**: **Already matched**, **Match now** and **Left unmatched**. Then click **Apply N balances**. You see "Payment matched to N documents." and each bill or invoice shows the payment.
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These matches only update your books. No money is moved, and all the amounts you entered are saved together.
## When you can't split
| Message | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| "This transaction is already fully attributed." | The whole payment is already linked to bills or invoices. |
| "No eligible open invoice balances were found for this party and date." (or bill) | ZeraBooks found no open balance for this party that the payment can settle. Check the party, or record the invoice or bill first. |
| "Transfers between your own accounts cannot settle bills or invoices." | The transaction is a transfer. **Document settlement** isn't offered for transfers. |
| "Use a positive amount no greater than {amount}." | The amount you typed is more than that document's open balance. |
## Frequently Asked Questions
How do I record a customer who paid two invoices at once?
Open the deposit in the Ledger or **Banks & Cards**, switch to **Edit**, click **Match to invoices** and enter each invoice's share. Click **Apply N balances** to save them together.
What if the customer paid a little less because of a bank fee?
Apply the payment to the invoice, then apply the fee or discount from the invoice's payment details. See [Record payments and credits](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/invoices/record-payments-and-credits).
Can I split a bank transaction across several categories instead?
No. A bank transaction from a statement has one **Pay For** category. To spread an amount over several categories, record a **Pay Out** or journal entry with several lines. See [Record money in, money out and transfers](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/ledger-and-categories/record-money-in-money-out-and-transfers).
What happens to an amount I leave unmatched?
It stays **Available** on the transaction. You can match it to another bill or invoice later.
Does splitting a payment send money or pay the bills?
No. ZeraBooks doesn't move money. Splitting only records in your books which bills or invoices the payment settled.
Where else can I match a payment to a bill?
From the bill itself. See [Match a bill to its payment](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/bills/match-a-bill-to-its-payment).
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