Explain a transaction

Importing a statement tells Kontala what moved through your account. Explaining tells it why - and that is what turns bank lines into accounts.

Each line on an account's statement carries a status marker: a red question mark for Unexplained and a green tick for Explained. The Unexplained tab shows a count of what still needs your attention.

Explain a line

1. Go to Banking, open the account, and choose the Unexplained tab.
2. Click a transaction - an explanation panel opens beneath it.
3. Choose a Type. The list depends on the direction of the line.
4. Fill in the field the type asks for, check the Value and VAT, then choose Add.

The line turns to "Fully explained" and gets its green tick.

Choosing a type

For everyday money out, choose Payment and pick a Category - the grouped list covers your income, cost and expense categories. For everyday money in that is not an invoice, choose Sales and pick a Category.

Where the type is a taxable sale or purchase, the VAT field appears. Pick a rate and Kontala extracts the VAT from the Value automatically; a manual rate lets you type the exact amount.

Money in that pays an invoice

Choose Invoice Receipt and pick the invoice - each option shows its reference and the amount still due. The invoice is marked as paid by this bank line; see Record an invoice payment.

Money out that pays a bill

Choose Bill Payment and pick the outstanding bill. The bill is settled the same way; see Record a bill payment.

One line can also be split across several explanations - see Partial explanations. For moves between your own accounts, see Record a transfer between accounts.