Creating split bills

Split bills are created using the Bill Delivered posting slip. Instead of using the default client address and charging 100% of the bill to the client, you can add other invoicees to the bill and apportion the bill accordingly.

To create a split bill:

1. Open the Bill Delivered posting slip and complete the bill details.

2. Click the Billing tab. The software automatically selects an invoicee, and allocates 100% of the bill, based on the following order of precedence:

• If a matter party of type INVOICE exists on a matter, the software automatically uses this.

• If a matter party of type INVOICE does not exist, the software checks for a client related party of type INVOICE and uses that.

• If neither exist, then the client address is used.

3. Click Add. A Search dialog box opens showing any invoicees already attached to the selected client/matter, i.e. any matter parties or client parties of type INVOICE. You can also find an invoicee by searching for a contact.

4. Select the desired invoicee and click OK.

5. In Ratio, type the percentage of the bill you want to allocate to this invoicee and click Save. You can also allocate by amending the value of each bill element.

• If the ratio is changed then the bill values are automatically re-calculated and similarly if a bill element is changed then the percentage ratio is re-calculated.

• (Optional) You can also type or lookup a comment in the Bill text field. Remember to click Save!

• (Optional) You can also reapply the default invoicee/allocation by using the Default Split button.

• (Optional) You can also allocate the Net amount of the bill by using the Default Net button.

• (Optional) You can also allocate the VAT amount of the bill by using the Default VAT button.

6. Repeat from step 3 for each invoicee you want to add.

7. Click OK to submit/post the bill. When the bill is posted, a master bill is created and a sub-bill is created for each invoicee. The master bill appears in the Accounts Ledger for the full amount of the bill and the associated sub-bills can be seen via the Bill Viewer. See Viewing split bills.

Notes

• If a contact is added via the search, it is added to the matter as a matter party of type INVOICE. However, if one already exists it is added to the client as a related party of type INVOICE.

• The Bill text field automatically defaults to whatever transaction text has been entered on the Summary tab. However, it can be changed if required.

• Rounding errors are indicated in the To allocate row and must be corrected. This row must resolve to zero for each element before the posting is accepted.

• When a bill is created, the Credit Control payment terms which cascade to the master bill also cascade to each sub-bill.

• When merging split bills, a separate merge document is produced for each invoicee and stored in Document Management at contact-level and available within the contact and matter history.

• Split bills can also be created when creating a draft bill via the Billing Wizard. See Creating draft bills.