Understanding dates on Moss card transactions

The time period that the invoice or receipt relates to.

If this date is used, this date is used to determine when the expense is recognised in your Profit & Loss account (P&L), instead of the receipt date.

If Moss can detect this on the invoice, we capture it automatically.

If no service period is provided, we default to the invoice/receipt date.

This will determine the accounting period used to capture the expense.

The date shown on the supplier’s invoice or receipt.

Depending on your accounting software, this date is used to determine when the expense is recognised in your Profit & Loss account (P&L). But only if no specific date for service entered.

Example: A hotel stay dated 10 March will appear as an expense on 10 March, even if the payment was made in advance on 15 February.

The date when the card was used.

Often the same as the receipt date (e.g. a restaurant bill), but not always (e.g. pre-authorisations, advance bookings).

Used as a fallback if the receipt date is missing.

The date the payment clears and appears on your Moss statement, and is often the same as the transaction date.

Always used as the payment date in your accounting exports.

Ensures your Balance of the Moss ledger account matches your Moss statement.

Expenses (P&L): Recorded using the service date (or receipt date if the service date is not used).

Payments (ledger balance): Recorded using the booking date.

This separation ensures that your expenses appear in the correct accounting period, while your Moss statement reconciles cleanly with your ledger.

Buying a coffee: Transaction date = Settlement date = Receipt date → all match.

Hotel booked in advance: Payment may be settled months before you receive the invoice. The expense date comes from the invoice, the payment date from the settlement.

Subscription: Supplier issues invoice on the 1st of October with 14 days to pay, for services provided in September.