Developers Guides Partial Payments

Partial Payments

Split an order across multiple payment methods or transactions. Accept card, cash, and Swish in any combination to settle a single order.

Online API Payments In-Store

Overview

Partial payments let you split a single order across multiple payment transactions. The customer pays a portion with one method (e.g., card), then completes the balance with another (e.g., cash or Swish). The order stays open until the total of all payments equals the totalOrderAmount.

When to Use Partial Payments

ScenarioDescription
Mixed payment methodsCustomer pays part by card, part by cash
Gift card + balanceGift card covers partial amount, card covers the rest
Split between payersTwo customers splitting a bill
Installment at POSCollecting payment in stages

Step 1: Create Order with Partial Amount

Create an order and specify a partial amount in initiatePaymentsOptions. This initiates the first payment for less than the total:

POST /merchants/:merchantId/orders
{
  "terminal$id": "YOUR_TERMINAL_ID",
  "referenceId": "split-order-001",
  "orderLines": [
    {
      "id": "ITEM-001",
      "name": "Nike Shoes",
      "quantity": 1,
      "amount": {
        "regular": 50000,
        "total": 50000,
        "currency": "752",
        "tax": [
          { "amount": 5000, "percentage": 10, "type": "VAT" }
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "ITEM-002",
      "name": "Apple Pods",
      "quantity": 1,
      "amount": {
        "regular": 50000,
        "total": 50000,
        "currency": "752",
        "tax": [
          { "amount": 5000, "percentage": 10, "type": "VAT" }
        ]
      }
    }
  ],
  "totalOrderAmount": {
    "regular": 100000,
    "total": 100000,
    "currency": "752",
    "tax": [
      { "amount": 10000, "percentage": 10, "type": "VAT" }
    ]
  },
  "controlFunctions": {
    "initiatePaymentsOptions": {
      "paymentMethod": "CARD",
      "amount": 50000
    }
  }
}
// Response
{
  "status": "SUCCESS",
  "data": {
    "orderId": "83d5ec67aab053970b",
    "paymentId": "83d5ec6784df720806"
  },
  "message": "Order created successfully"
}

The order total is 100,000 but only 50,000 is charged in this first payment. The order remains in PENDING or PARTIAL_PAYMENT_COMPLETED status.

Step 2: Initiate Remaining Payments

Use the Initiate Payment API to pay the remaining balance. Specify the orderId from the first step:

POST /merchants/:merchantId/payments
{
  "orderId": "83d5ec67aab053970b",
  "paymentMethod": "CARD",
  "amount": 50000
}
// Response
{
  "status": "SUCCESS",
  "data": {
    "paymentId": "83d5ec6794ef830906"
  },
  "message": "Payment initiated successfully"
}

You can split across more than two payments — keep initiating payments until the total equals totalOrderAmount.

An order is considered complete only when the sum of all partial payments equals the order’s total amount.

Step 3: Check Order Status

Verify the order is fully paid:

GET /merchants/:merchantId/orders/:orderId/status
// Response
{
  "status": "SUCCESS",
  "data": {
    "orderStatus": "PAYMENT_COMPLETED",
    "payments": [
      {
        "paymentId": "83d5ec6784df720806",
        "paymentStatus": "PAYMENT_COMPLETED",
        "paymentMethod": "CARD",
        "amount": 50000
      },
      {
        "paymentId": "83d5ec6794ef830906",
        "paymentStatus": "PAYMENT_COMPLETED",
        "paymentMethod": "CARD",
        "amount": 50000
      }
    ],
    "paymentIds": ["83d5ec6784df720806", "83d5ec6794ef830906"]
  }
}

Mixing Payment Methods

Each partial payment can use a different method. For example, first payment by card, second by cash:

// First payment (at order creation)
"initiatePaymentsOptions": { "paymentMethod": "CARD", "amount": 50000 }

// Second payment
{ "orderId": "...", "paymentMethod": "CASH", "amount": 50000 }

Reference

Other Guides

in-store

Tap to Pay on iPhone SDK

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Android SoftPOS SDK

Turn Android devices into payment terminals with the Surfboard Android SoftPOS SDK. Complete integration guide from setup to production.

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EMV Terminal Integration

Integrate traditional card-present terminals through Surfboard's unified API. From account setup to live payments in one guide.

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Payment Page

Redirect customers to a Surfboard-hosted checkout page. The fastest way to accept online payments with minimal integration effort.

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Inter-App Integration

Integrate your POS app with CheckoutX using native app switch. Register terminals, process payments, and scan NFC tags through a bi-directional deep link flow.

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Self-Hosted Checkout

Embed a payment form directly in your web app with the Surfboard Online SDK. Full UI control with Surfboard handling PCI compliance.

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Server-to-Server API

Process online payments entirely from your backend with Merchant Initiated Transactions. Full control over recurring payments, subscriptions, and tokenized card flows.

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Create an Order

Learn how to create orders with line items, tax, customer details, and control functions. The starting point for accepting payments with the Surfboard API.

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Merchant Onboarding

Set up merchants and stores on the Surfboard platform. Walk through the full onboarding flow from merchant creation to KYB completion and store setup.

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Payment Lifecycle

Manage the full payment lifecycle from order creation through capture, void, cancel, and refund operations using the Surfboard Payments API.

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Capture a Payment

Finalize a previously authorized payment by capturing funds. Covers delay capture and pre-authorization flows with step-by-step API examples.

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Terminal & Device Management

Manage payment terminals and devices via the Surfboard API. Register in-store and online terminals, configure settings, and handle device operations.

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Cancel a Payment

Stop an in-progress payment before it completes. Use cancellation when a customer abandons checkout or a payment needs to be halted mid-process.

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Webhooks & Notifications

Receive real-time event notifications via webhooks, email, Slack, and SFTP. Subscribe to payment events and settlement reports for merchants and partners.

online

Recurring Payments

Implement subscription billing and recurring charges using tokenization, recurring payment configuration, and Merchant Initiated Transactions.

online

Void a Payment

Reverse a completed payment before settlement. Voiding stops funds from transferring to the merchant's account, avoiding incorrect transactions.

in-store

Receipts

Generate, email, print, and customise receipts for in-store transactions using the Surfboard Receipts API.

online

Refund an Order

Process a full refund by creating a return order with negative quantities. Covers the complete refund flow with API examples and payment method requirements.

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Partial Refund

Refund specific items or a reduced amount from a completed order. Process partial returns by creating a return order with only the items to be refunded.

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Tips Configuration

Configure tipping on Surfboard payment terminals at the merchant, store, or terminal level using a hierarchical override model.

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NFC Tag Reading

Use the NFC Reading API to create tag-reading sessions on payment terminals, scan NFC/RFID-tagged products, and retrieve scanned tag data.

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Multi-Merchant Terminals

Set up shared payment terminals for multiple merchants using the Multi-Merchant Group API. Ideal for food courts, events, and co-located businesses.

online

Store Management

Create, update, verify, and manage in-store and online stores using the Surfboard Payments Store APIs.

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Gift Cards & Promotions

Issue and manage gift cards, track transactions, and create marketing promotions using the Surfboard Payments APIs.

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Product Catalog

Create and manage product catalogs, products, variants, inventory levels, and analytics through the Catalog API.

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Settlements & Reporting

Retrieve settlement reports, view adjustments, manage merchant charges, and register customer profiles for reconciliation and billing.

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Account & Service Provider Management

Create merchant and partner accounts, manage user roles, register service providers, and configure external notifications via the Surfboard API.

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Payment Methods

Activate, deactivate, and list payment methods for a merchant. Manage card, Swish, Klarna, AMEX, Vipps, MobilePay, and more via the API or Partner Portal.

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Client Auth Tokens

Generate client-side authentication tokens for secure API access from browsers and mobile apps without exposing your API key or secret.

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Partner Branding

Configure white-label branding for terminals and payment pages. Set colors, fonts, logos, and cover images at the partner level via API or Partner Portal.

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