> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.podigee.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.podigee.com/documentation/grow-and-monetize/monetization/prepare-a-settlement-period.md).

# Prepare a Settlement period

Collect delivered ad evidence for one seller and month, preview the resulting invoices and publisher earnings, and prepare one reviewable Settlement period.

The Podigee Audio Video Ad Server uses a Settlement period to collect delivered ad evidence for one seller and one calendar month. Preparation creates the draft buyer invoices, publisher statements, and proposed payouts that finance operators review before month-end close.

Preparation does not issue an invoice, approve a payout, or close the month. It does not rewrite the delivery evidence. It creates a controlled set of money records from the current eligible evidence.

![The saved One Podigee finance authority is shown with the active invoice issuer and country rule used by settlement preparation.](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7bec62f466c4dcf903dc2350d385dd2e4805b393%2Fdoc-monetization-020-finance-authority-active.jpg?alt=media)

*Check the active finance authority before you prepare a Settlement period.*

## Before you start

1. Open **Monetization > Evidence & Money > Finance**.
2. Confirm that the seller has an active finance authority.
3. Confirm that delivered ad evidence is complete for the month you want to prepare.
4. Check the tax rate that applies to the seller and settlement rules.

You need finance read permission to inspect the preview. You need invoice preparation permission to prepare a Settlement period.

## Preview the period

1. Select **Prepare month-end settlement**.
2. Select the seller.
3. Select the calendar month.
4. Select the tax rate.
5. Select **Update preview**.

The preview shows:

* delivered entries included;
* buyers included;
* publisher revenue by currency;
* entries carried forward from an earlier delivery date; and
* whether this month was already prepared.

The preview uses the seller's active finance authority and the selected tax rate. If no active authority exists, preparation is unavailable.

## Understand what will be created

When the preview is correct, preparation creates:

* one open Settlement period for the seller and month;
* draft buyer invoices grouped by buyer and currency;
* publisher earnings statements grouped by currency; and
* one proposed payout for each publisher statement.

The records use the same eligible delivery transactions. The buyer invoice records the receivable side. The publisher statement records the publisher revenue side. Each proposed payout uses the statement's payable amount and currency.

If an entry was delivered before the selected month but was not settled, it is carried into the selected month. Its original delivery date remains visible in the statement and invoice evidence.

## Prepare the Settlement period

1. Read the preview totals and carried-forward notice.
2. Select **I understand that this creates draft money records**.
3. Select **Prepare draft records**.
4. Wait for the Finance page to show the new period, invoices, statements, and payouts.

Preparation is safe to retry. If a period already exists for the seller and month, Podigee returns the existing period and its money records. It does not create a second period or duplicate invoices and payouts.

## Continue the finance workflow

After preparation:

1. Open each draft buyer invoice and approve it before issuance.
2. Open each publisher statement and review its earnings and deductions.
3. Prepare or open the proposed payout and complete its configured review.
4. Resolve every reconciliation difference.
5. Close the Settlement period only after invoices, payouts, and evidence comparisons are complete.

A Settlement period can stay open while you complete these tasks. Closing is a separate action that locks the month against silent changes.

## Handle late evidence

If the preview says that the month is already prepared and later delivery entries are waiting, do not prepare the month again. Use the suggested next settlement month or the late-evidence process. The original period remains the source of truth.

## Recover safely

| Situation                               | What to do                                                                                           |
| --------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| No seller is available                  | Configure an active finance authority for the seller, then return to Finance.                        |
| The preview has no entries              | Check delivery evidence, seller scope, accounting dates, and finance authority.                      |
| The tax rate is wrong                   | Select the correct rate before preparation. Do not edit created invoice records to hide the mistake. |
| The month is already prepared           | Open the existing period. Do not submit a second preparation.                                        |
| Later entries are waiting               | Use the next suggested month or the late-evidence correction process.                                |
| Preparation reports a concurrent change | Refresh Finance and inspect the existing period before trying again.                                 |

## Expected result

One open Settlement period contains the eligible month-end evidence, draft buyer invoices, publisher earnings statements, and proposed payouts. The records are ready for separate approval, issuance, payment, reconciliation, and close actions without duplicate money records.


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