Understanding Shopify Transactions in A2X
Shopify accounting can start simple but often becomes complex as sellers add payment methods, sales channels, and third-party apps. These layers introduce nuances that impact how transactions should be recorded.
A2X helps you make sense of it all—mapping Shopify transactions clearly for accurate, reliable accounting.
Mapping of Shopify transactions in A2X
Whether you setup your A2X for Shopify account with a specialist or used our Shopify setup guides, you need to familiarize yourself with the various transaction descriptions. The following table shows the equivalents of common Shopify transactions and how they are shown in the A2X accounts and taxes page.
Please note: This is not a comprehensive list, each A2X for Shopify account will have more transactions showing in the A2X mappings page, please contact our support team if you need help understanding those transactions.
The Accounts & Taxes page is the first step to ensuring your Shopify transactions are correctly mapped for accurate accounting. In most cases, variances between your accounting system and A2X data stem from incorrect mappings. Use our step-by-step guide to confidently set up your Shopify accounts and tax settings in A2X.
Compare the Shopify Finance Summary report with the A2X Finance Summary Report
The Shopify Finance Summary Report provides a full overview of total sales and payments for a selected period. Many accountants and bookkeepers use it when preparing financial statements at period end.
A2X’s Finance Report mirrors this summary by consolidating data from each order linked to payouts fetched during the same period. It's designed to help verify that A2X has captured all relevant Shopify data.
To access these reports:
Shopify: Go to Analytics > Reports > Summary
A2X: Go to Reports > Finance Report
We recommend comparing line items side by side using monthly, quarterly, or yearly ranges. This ensures greater accuracy, as A2X may still be finalising data for recent transactions that already appear in Shopify's summary.
Shopify Finance Report
A2X Finance Report
As shown above, the A2X Finance Report is designed to match Shopify's Finance Summary. However, in some cases, you may notice variances in the figures.
Below, we outline how to identify and reconcile these variances.
A2X Shopify Reconciliation Tool
Troubleshooting with the Reconciliation Tool
To effectively troubleshoot Finance Report variances, follow the steps below:
Start with a Working Paper
Use a working paper template to collect and organise your data in one place. This will make identifying and resolving variances easier.
Check the Payments Section First
Begin with the Payments section (right side of the report). Most variances here are due to missing gateway payouts in A2X. If so, running a Payout History Fetch usually resolves the issue once the missing payout becomes available.Review the Sales Section
If the payments variance is resolved but a variance remains in the Sales section (left side), run the Reconciliation Tool for the related transaction line.Investigate Specific Orders
Once the reconciliation report is complete, select one or more relevant orders in Shopify.You can send the Order Details and Order Timeline to our team for further review.
Alternatively, use our guide to analysing orders in A2X to investigate on your own.
Consider Other Possible Causes
If the above steps don't resolve the issue, consider the following:Third-party apps: Are there external apps in Shopify affecting the data? You can often identify these if you see numeric-coded names in the Marketplace column on the A2X mappings page. Chat to our support team about our list of third-party app codes for reference.
Mismatch with General Ledger: Is the variance between Shopify/A2X and your accounting system (GL)? If so, refer to our guide for troubleshooting A2X vs GL account variances.
Clearing Account Balances: If the issue relates to your payment gateway clearing account balances in the GL, see our gateway clearing account reconciliation guide.
Summary
Shopify variances are common and can occur for many reasons, especially when multiple apps, gateways, or sales channels are involved. A2X is built to transfer your Shopify data into your accounting system as accurately as possible. Still, some limitations exist—particularly when third-party tools or complex setups are in play.
Our team is here to help you ensure your Shopify accounting stays accurate and that your books are closed smoothly and confidently at month-end.