How it runs for real estate agents and brokerages
Your accountant downloads each payout's balance transactions, matches every charge to the agent statement or invoice it settles, posts fees separately and traces refunds to the original charge through our ReconBot workflow. Rental application fees collected for landlords are separated from brokerage revenue. Payouts are reconciled weekly.
What is payment processor reconciliation?
Payment processor reconciliation is the work of proving that the money a processor or marketplace deposits equals your gross sales less its fees, refunds, chargebacks, reserves and adjustments for the same settlement period. Each payout is broken into its parts and posted so revenue, fees and sales tax are correct and the bank deposit matches to the cent.
What we handle for real estate agents and brokerages
- Stripe, Square and QuickBooks Payments payouts split into charges, fees and refunds
- Agent fee card payments matched to monthly statements
- Training, event and marketing package charges recognized in the right period
- Rental application fees separated from brokerage revenue
- Disputes and chargebacks traced to the original charge and agent
The KPI that matters here
Every processor payout matched to its underlying charges within 3 business days of settlement.
Real estate compliance notes
1099-NEC for agents and referral partners
Brokerages report commissions paid to licensed agents on Form 1099-NEC because agents who meet the IRC section 3508 tests are statutory nonemployees. Referral fees paid to other brokerages and payments to unincorporated vendors are reported the same way once they reach the annual threshold. We keep W-9s and cumulative totals current so the forms are prepared for your review and filing by the January deadline.
Commission splits and disbursement records
Each closing is documented from the settlement statement through the commission disbursement authorization to the agent payment, so the split, cap progress, franchise royalty and any referral fee are traceable. Many state commissions require these records to be retained for several years. We file the documents with the entry in LedgerDesk.
Earnest money and trust accounts
Most state real estate commissions require earnest money to be held in a separate trust account, never commingled with operating funds, with a transaction-level ledger and a monthly reconciliation. Some states require interest-bearing accounts or set deadlines for deposit and disbursement. We maintain the ledger and reconciliation; the broker signs and remains responsible under the license.
Client money in the UK, Canada and Australia
UK letting and estate agents must belong to a Client Money Protection scheme and keep client money in a separate account. Canadian and Australian agencies operate under provincial or state trust-account rules with regular reconciliation and audit requirements. We prepare the ledgers and reconciliations in the format the regulator or auditor expects.
Real estate software we work in
- QuickBooks Online
- Xero
- Gusto
- Bill.com
- Stripe
- Brokermint
- SkySlope
- dotloop
- Lone Wolf Back Office
- All 50 platforms
More for real estate agents and brokerages
Other services for real estate
Payment processor reconciliation in other industries
Frequently asked questions
Why do Stripe deposits not match my agent statements?
Stripe pays out the net of fees and bundles many charges into one deposit, sometimes across two days, while refunds and disputes are deducted from later payouts. The accountant uses the balance transaction report to break each payout into its charges, fees and refunds and applies them individually, so the agent statements and the bank agree.
How do you treat payments for a coaching program or event collected in advance?
A payment received before the program or event takes place is recorded as deferred revenue and recognized in the months the service is delivered. The processing fee is expensed when charged. This keeps monthly revenue tied to what was delivered, which matters for a brokerage that runs training as a profit center.
Are rental application fees brokerage income?
It depends on the agreement with the landlord and state rules. Where the fee is collected on the landlord's behalf, it is recorded as a liability and passed through, with only any agreed portion recognized as brokerage revenue. The accountant sets up the treatment per the agreement and keeps the pass-through separate from the brokerage's own fees.
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