{"id":25270,"date":"2026-09-17T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentecdirect.com\/blog\/?p=25270"},"modified":"2026-09-17T15:10:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T22:10:44","slug":"feature-enhancement-first-steps-for-automated-payment-allocation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentecdirect.com\/blog\/feature-enhancement-first-steps-for-automated-payment-allocation\/","title":{"rendered":"Feature Enhancement | First Steps for Automated Payment Allocation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"First<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Automated Payment Allocation feature automates splitting payments into multiple income categories. Users can create rules to determine how funds are allocated across tenant charges. Before this new feature launches, you must update your account settings to assign income categories to your products and services.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Quick Recap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rentec Direct\u2019s Automated Payment Allocation feature is nearing release, and as we get closer to the launch date, there is one step you need to take to ensure it works smoothly for you.

Automated Payment Allocation<\/strong><\/a> (APA) <\/strong>was introduced as an upcoming feature designed to make tenant payment processing easier and more automated. APA completely automates the process of splitting payments into applicable income categories. When posting income to a tenant, you will soon simply select which invoice the payment is for, and the income categories are automatically applied based on the charges on the invoice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if a tenant pays more than is currently due? No problem. The extra amount will be saved as an Unapplied Credit. That credit will then be automatically applied to future charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result? Less manual payment processing, more consistent accounting, and less time figuring out where each payment belongs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepare your Account for Automated Payment Allocation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In order for the APA feature to work effectively, you must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Assign income categories to your products<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Determine which charges will include a management fee<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    You can use the new Detect Income Categories Wizard<\/strong> to help you through this step, making setting up multiple products at once more efficient.

    You can access all three updates from the Products & Services page when adding or editing a Product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Assign Products to Income Categories for APA <\/h2>\n\n\n\n


    In order to use the APA feature, tenant charges must correlate to an income category that can be customized in the Products & Services section of your account settings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In your Rentec Direct account:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Click Settings<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Under Financial<\/em><\/strong>, select Products & Services<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Click the Edit<\/strong> (paper\/pencil) icon for the product you want to update<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Assign an Income Category for Each Product<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Each product now includes an Income Category setting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      When APA launches, Rentec Direct will use the Income Category assigned to each Product to automatically categorize payments entered into your account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This applies to all payments entered through Rentec Direct. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      To make setup easier, Rentec Direct uses your account\u2019s payment history to suggest the category most commonly associated with each product. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You can use the suggested category or select a different one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Choose Whether to Include Management Fees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      You\u2019ll also find a new Include Management Fee option when adding or editing a product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Some products may be subject to management fees based on your management agreement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Your existing property settings still control the management fee details, including the category, percentage, and minimum and maximum amounts. The new Product setting tells Rentec Direct whether that fee should apply to a particular product when eligible payments are automatically processed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      When APA becomes available, Rentec Direct will use this Product setting to determine whether to post a management fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Set your preferences now, so your Products are ready when APA arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Updating Lots of Products? We\u2019ve Got You.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      If you have a lot of products to update, you don\u2019t have to edit each one individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The new Detect Income Categories Wizard<\/strong> reviews your transaction history and suggests Income Categories for each product based on previous charges and payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You can review each suggestion, accept it, or choose a different category before saving your changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Your approved changes are automatically recorded in your account history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Why Get a Head Start on Automated Payment Allocation?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      The full Automated Payment Allocation feature is still on its way, but there\u2019s no need to wait until launch day to get organized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Set up your Income Categories and management fee preferences now so your products are ready when APA goes live. These settings will help Rentec Direct do more of the work for you by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n