Welcome to the Payments section of CivicPlus! If you’re new to our platform or just getting started with accepting payments, this article will give you a clear overview of how payments work, who’s involved, and what to expect.

Our payment solutions allow your organization to securely accept, process, and manage payments directly within the CivicPlus {{variable.Platform}}, whether you’re collecting fees, registrations, permits, taxes, utility bills, or other payments from the public. We support a variety of payment types and methods to meet your needs and the expectations of your residents.

How Our Payment Flow Works

Here’s a simplified look at what happens when a resident makes a payment:

Resident initiates Payment: A resident pays using their preferred method, such as credit or debit card or {{glossary.ACH}} (bank transfer), through your website or at your physical location.
Payment is Processed: The transaction is securely handled by {{variable.Payments}} solution or a third-party processor (if you elect).
Confirmation and Receipts: The resident sees a confirmation screen and receives an optional email receipt. You also receive confirmation in your system.
Payout to Your Bank: The gross amount (before fees) or net amount (after fees) are deposited into your linked bank account based on the payout schedule.
Reporting and Reconciliation: You can view transactions, monitor payouts, and download reports to help reconcile your records.

Who’s Involved?

There are several parties that work together to complete a transaction:

Resident (Payer): The individual submitting the payment.
Your Organization (Merchant): The entity receiving the payment.
Payment Gateway and Processor: The entities handling the movement of funds between the payer and your bank.
Issuing Bank: The resident’s bank or card provider.
Acquiring or Merchant Bank: The bank that receives the funds on your behalf.

Is it Secure?

Yes. We provide a secure, {{glossary.PCI}}-compliant, standalone utility application that you can use within several CivicPlus products, such as {{variable.Recreation Management}}, {{variable.Community Development}}, {{variable.NextRequest}}, and others. Sensitive card or bank data is never stored on our servers for both in-person or online payment transactions.

For more information on security, see our PCI Compliance article.

What’s Next?

Here are some additional resources to help you learn more about our solution.

Ready to start accepting payments? If you're new to CivicPlus, explore our available solutions and connect with our team to find the best fit for your needs. If you're an existing CivicPlus customer, please reach out to your account manager to get started.

Convenience Fees