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

# Stripe payment links

> Generate Stripe-hosted payment links for your invoices so recipients can pay online

You can connect your Stripe account to Karat to generate hosted payment links for invoices. When a payment link is included on an invoice, your recipient can click through and pay online using the payment methods enabled on your Stripe account.

## Prerequisites

* A Karat Banking account with invoicing access
* An existing Stripe account
* The **Manage Stripe API key** permission on your Karat account (ask your account admin if you don't have access)

## Connect your Stripe account

Before generating payment links you need to connect your Stripe account to Karat.

1. **Open integrations settings.** Go to **Settings > Integrations**. Under the **Stripe** section, click **Connect Stripe**.
2. **Authorize Karat.** You'll be redirected to Stripe to authorize the connection. Sign in to your Stripe account and grant Karat access.
3. **Confirm the connection.** After authorizing, you'll be redirected back to your Karat dashboard. The Stripe section in **Settings > Integrations** will show a **Connected** status along with your connected account name.

> [!NOTE]
>
> If you need to switch Stripe accounts, click the reconnect button next to the connection status. To remove the connection entirely, click the disconnect button.

## Generate a Stripe payment link for an invoice

Once Stripe is connected, you can generate a payment link while creating an invoice.

1. **Start creating an invoice.** Go to **Banking > Invoices > Create Invoice** and fill in the recipient and invoice details as usual.
2. **Enable the payment link.** On the **Payment terms** step, toggle **Add payment link**. A text field appears where you can paste any URL, or click **Generate Stripe payment link** to create one automatically.
3. **Generate the link.** Click **Generate Stripe payment link**. Karat creates a one-time Stripe Payment Link using the line items on the invoice and populates the field automatically.
4. **Complete the invoice.** Continue to the review step and send the invoice. The payment link is included in the invoice PDF and email so your recipient can pay online.

> [!NOTE]
>
> You can also paste a payment link from any other payment provider instead of generating one from Stripe. Toggle **Add payment link** and enter the URL manually.

## How Stripe payments are tracked

When a recipient pays through a Stripe payment link, Karat automatically updates the invoice status:

* **Paid via Stripe**: Stripe has confirmed the customer's payment. For card payments, this happens almost immediately. For bank-based methods like ACH, Karat waits for Stripe to confirm the payment has succeeded before updating the status.

You can see this status on the **Invoices** page and in the invoice detail view. Invoices marked **Paid via Stripe** behave like paid invoices: they no longer appear in your open or overdue totals.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Paid via Stripe** means Stripe has confirmed the payment on its side. It does not necessarily mean funds have settled to your bank account, as settlement timing depends on your Stripe account's payout schedule.

## Payment methods

The payment methods available on your Stripe payment links are controlled by your Stripe account settings, not by Karat. To enable or change payment methods (for example, to accept ACH bank transfers), update your payment method settings directly in your [Stripe Dashboard](https://dashboard.stripe.com).

## Managing your Stripe connection

You can manage your Stripe connection at any time from **Settings > Integrations**.

| Action | How |
| - | - |
| View connection status | Go to **Settings > Integrations** and check the status badge under **Stripe** |
| Reconnect | Click the reconnect button to re-authorize with a different Stripe account |
| Disconnect | Click the disconnect button to revoke Karat's access to your Stripe account |

After disconnecting, any previously generated payment links remain active on Stripe's side, but you won't be able to generate new ones until you reconnect.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need a specific type of Stripe account?

No. Any existing Stripe account works. Karat connects through Stripe's standard OAuth flow: you just need to sign in to your Stripe account and authorize Karat.

### Can I use Stripe payment links with automatic reconciliation?

Yes. Stripe payment links and automatic reconciliation are independent features. When Stripe confirms a payment, the invoice is marked **Paid via Stripe**. Automatic reconciliation continues to work for payments received through ACH or wire.

### What happens if a Stripe payment fails?

If a payment fails (for example, an ACH payment is returned), Karat is notified by Stripe and the invoice remains in its current status. You can follow up with your recipient or generate a new payment link.

### Can I generate a payment link for an existing invoice?

Payment links are generated during invoice creation. To add a payment link to an existing invoice, you would need to create a new invoice with the link included.

*<sub>Karat is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking and Card services provided by Grasshopper Bank, N.A., First Internet Bank of Indiana, and Cross River Bank, Members FDIC.</sub>*