Payment Frequency and Date Handling - Technical Version
This article gives an overview objects and how they work.
Payment schedules: how “how often” works with your dates
### Who this is for
Property owners and managers who want clear, predictable payment reminders (rent in, insurance/taxes out) without getting lost in technical details.
### The short version
- You pick a start date, an end date, and how often you want payments (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual).
- We create a payment on the start date, then repeat on a regular rhythm.
- If you start on the last day of a month, we’ll keep payments on the last day of each following month.
- We keep going until the next date would go past your end date.
- If your end date is “almost right” (off by a day), we fix it in a sensible way so your schedule stays clean.
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## What you choose when setting up
- Start date: When the first payment is due (or the only payment for one-time).
- How often:
- Monthly: every 1 month
- Quarterly: every 3 months
- Semi-annual: every 6 months
- Annual: every 12 months
- One-time: a single payment on the start date
- Custom: for special cases you want us to handle manually
- End date: The boundary for the schedule. For repeating plans, this is not a due date; it’s the limit we don’t cross.
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## How we create your due dates
- We start on your start date.
- We add the period length each time (1, 3, 6, or 12 months).
- If your start date is the last day of a month, we keep it on the last day for each future month. Example: Jan 31 → Feb 29 (or 28), Mar 31, Apr 30.
- Otherwise, we stick to the same day number. If a month is shorter, we use that month’s last day. Example: Jan 30 → Feb 29/28 → Mar 30.
- We stop before crossing your end date. We won’t create a payment after your end date.
Note: For one-time plans, we create just one payment on the start date.
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## What “fits” with each frequency
- Monthly: covers at least 1 month, then in 1-month blocks.
- Quarterly: covers at least 3 months, then in 3-month blocks; must start in January, April, July, or October.
- Semi-annual: covers at least 6 months, then in 6-month blocks; must start in January or July.
- Annual: covers at least 12 months, then in 12-month blocks; any month can be the start.
Tip: Starting on the 1st makes schedules feel cleaner, but it’s not required.
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## When your end date is “almost right” (our smart adjustments)
We tidy up slight mismatches so your schedule stays consistent and easy to read.
- Monthly: If you’re off by a day past a clean monthly span, we treat it as exact (we don’t add an extra month).
- Quarterly: Same as monthly—off by a day? We treat it as exact (you get clean 3‑month blocks).
- Semi-annual: No grace. If you go beyond 6 months even by a day, we extend to a clean 12‑month period (two 6‑month blocks).
- Annual: A 366‑day year (leap-year span) is treated as one clean year; we don’t turn it into two.
We keep your date pattern while we adjust:
- End-of-month starts remain end‑of‑month.
- Otherwise we keep the same day number when possible, or use the last day if a month is shorter.
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## Examples you can copy
- Monthly, end-of-month
- Start: Jan 31, End: Apr 30
- Payments: Jan 31 → Feb 29/28 → Mar 31
- Monthly, same day-of-month with clamping
- Start: Jan 30, End: Apr 30
- Payments: Jan 30 → Feb 29/28 → Mar 30
- Quarterly, off by a day (we round down)
- Start: Jan 1, End: Apr 2
- Treated as exactly 3 months (one quarter)
- Quarterly, start month requirement
- Start: Feb 1 → Not allowed. Use Jan 1 or Apr 1 (or Jul 1, Oct 1).
- Semi-annual, off by a day (we round up)
- Start: Mar 31, End: Oct 1
- Treated as a 12‑month span (two clean 6‑month blocks)
- Annual, leap year
- Start: Jan 1, 2024, End: Jan 1, 2025
- Treated as one clean year (we don’t turn it into two)
- One-time
- Start: May 15
- Single payment on May 15
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## Common questions
- Will I ever get a payment on my end date?
- For repeating schedules: no. The end date is a boundary, not a due date. For one-time schedules, we only use the start date.
- Do you split amounts across months/quarters?
- No. The amount is the amount per payment (per month/quarter/half-year/year).
- What if I don’t have an end date?
- For some items, we’ll use a sensible default (like one year). Otherwise, add an end date that matches your plan (1, 3, 6, or 12 months—then in those same blocks).
- How do you handle February 29?
- If you start at the end of a month, we keep you on the last day—Feb 29 in leap years, Feb 28 otherwise.
- Can quarterly/semi-annual start any time?
- Quarterly must start in January, April, July, or October. Semi-annual must start in January or July. Monthly and annual can start in any month.
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## Quick checklist to get it right first try
- Pick the start date you want your first payment to be due.
- Choose how often: monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual, or one-time.
- For quarterly, pick Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct. For semi-annual, pick Jan or Jul.
- Set an end date that fits: at least 1/3/6/12 months, then in those same blocks.
- If you’re off by a day, don’t worry—we’ll tidy it up while keeping your date pattern.
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## Real-world guidance by scenario
- Rent (money in): Monthly works best; start on the day rent is due. If it’s the 31st, we’ll keep you at month-end automatically.
- Insurance, HOA dues, services (money out):
- Use monthly/quarterly/semi-annual/annual to match your contract.
- If your contract dates are “almost” aligned, we’ll clean them up without changing the spirit of the schedule.
- Property tax: One-time on the due date.
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If you share your start date, end date, and how often you want payments, we can list the exact dates you’ll see.
- Rewrote the article in plain consumer language, removed technical terms and file/variable references, added clear rules, examples, and practical checklists.