> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.uplifter.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Where can a refund go: card, cash, e-transfer or account credit?

> Compare the four Refund to options in the invoice refund dialog and what each one triggers.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * **Original payment method** is the only option that sends money back through your payment processor. The other three record a refund you handled yourself, or give it as credit.
  * **Only card refunds** email the family, carry a processing fee, and are checked against your club's balance and the daily refund limit.
  * **Account credit** lands in the family's balance immediately and is offered only when the invoice belongs to a guardian account.
  * **If the card option is greyed out** (no card payment, or a bank payment still clearing), the dialog picks **Record cash refund** for you.
</Note>

**Where to find it.** Open the invoice from **Financials > Invoices** and click **Issue refund**. **Refund to** appears on **Set refund amounts** once the **Total refund** is above \$0.00, with **Original payment method**, **Record cash refund (handled outside the platform)**, **Record E-transfer refund** and **Account credit (added to the family's balance)**.

**How the four compare.**

| | Original payment method | Record cash refund | Record E-transfer refund | Account credit |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Money goes back through your payment processor | Yes | No | No | No |
| Family gets the "Refund initiated" email | Yes | No | No | No |
| Refund processing fee for your club | Yes | No | No | No |
| Checked against your club's balance and the daily refund limit; can be held for review | Yes | No | No | No |
| Settles | Starts pending; can fail or be reversed | Immediately | Immediately | Immediately |
| Shows on the invoice | **PENDING REFUND**, then **REFUNDED** or **PARTIALLY REFUNDED** | **REFUNDED** or **PARTIALLY REFUNDED**, plus "Refunded outside the platform" in **Payment history** | As cash, plus "Ref:" and the confirmation number | **REFUNDED** or **PARTIALLY REFUNDED**, plus "Refunded to account credit" in **Payment history** |

Tax and fees returned to the family are the same whichever option you choose.

**When Original payment method is greyed out.** A reason shows beside it: "no card payment on this invoice" (for example, it was paid in cash) or "the bank payment has not cleared yet" (a bank payment usually clears in 3 to 5 business days). The dialog then preselects **Record cash refund**.

**When Account credit is offered.** Only when the invoice belongs to a guardian account, so never on a walk-in sale with no family attached. The credit lands in the family's balance the moment you confirm, ready to spend at checkout. See [How do I add or remove account credit for a guardian?](/club/athletes-families/how-do-i-add-or-remove-account-credit).

**Where E-transfer is offered.** Always in the invoice refund dialog, with an optional **E-transfer confirmation number** field. The refund step inside **Cancel enrollment?** and **Cancel membership?** offers the other options but not e-transfer.

**Gift card and credit portions.** On an **Original payment method** refund, any part paid with a gift card returns to that gift card automatically ("Returns to gift card •• 1234" on **Review refund**), and any part paid with account credit returns to the family's balance. Only the rest goes back to the card.

**Confirming.** The button and the message after it name the destination:

* \*\*Confirm & Refund $X**: "Refund of $X sent."
* \*\*Record cash refund $X**: "Cash refund of $X recorded."
* \*\*Record E-transfer refund $X**: "E-transfer refund of $X recorded."
* \*\*Refund $X to account credit**: "$X added to the family's account credit."

The card refund email asks the family to allow 5 to 10 business days for the money to appear on their statement.

**Imported invoices.** These use **Record refund**, with their own three destinations: see [How do I refund an invoice imported from my previous system?](/club/refunds-cancellations/refund-an-imported-invoice).

**Related:** [How do I refund a customer on a paid invoice?](/club/refunds-cancellations/how-do-i-refund-a-paid-invoice) · [Why does a refund cost my club more than the amount refunded?](/club/refunds-cancellations/why-refund-costs-club-more) · [What is the \$1,000 daily refund limit?](/club/refunds-cancellations/daily-refund-limit) · [How do I refund an invoice imported from my previous system?](/club/refunds-cancellations/refund-an-imported-invoice).